HIV experts and LGBT advocates across the country are calling on the United States government to end its “discriminatory” ban on blood donations from gay men, with a renewed policy push emerging from the mass shooting that killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
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Of the hundreds of people that lined up around the block to donate blood to the victims of the Orlando shooting, one group was turned away.
When someone wants to donate blood, they have to answer a questionnaire that includes questions about sexual history, drug use, and other questions that are created to evaluate a donor. At least 700 people showed up at the OneBlood donation center near the Pulse nightclub Sunday.
Activists protest the one-year celibacy restriction placed on LGBT blood donors by the government Tuesday outside City Hall.
“The ultimate goal we have for the blood supply is to keep the recipient of the product safe”, reiterated Becker, noting UNYTS – like any blood collection service, including the American Red Cross – is subject to strict FDA guidelines.
Gay or bisexual men who have had sex with another man in the past 12 months are not allowed to donate blood, according to official rules from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
If a man has had sex with another man, they can not donate blood for 12 months. But more blood will be needed in the coming days.
Spain and South Africa also have individual risk assessments for potential blood donors, and activists are pushing for a similar policy in the US.
Several Chippewa County organizations are hosting blood donation sites this month: From 1-6 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, people can donate blood at Holy Family Hall, 136 E. 3rd Ave.in Stanley.
Blood Bank of Alaska CEO Robert Scanlon said at this time, the blood bank does not accept blood donations from gay men. “Who knows, you can save somebody’s life”.
Altogether, 180 voluntary donors donated blood.
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Right now, he said, decisions are still being made based on fear – fear that goes back to the tainted blood scandal of the early ’80s, when untested donations left about 2,000 Canadians infected with HIV and an estimated 30,000 more with hepatitis C.
