The deferral policy she mentions is the current restriction on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, who can only donate if they haven’t had sex in the past 12 months. The FDA policy – which has been condemned by the American Medical Association – has sparked national outrage that advocates now hope to convert into long-awaited action. A gay man himself, he sides with the American Red Cross, the American Association of Blood Banks, and the American Medical Association, whose efforts pushed the FDA into lifting the lifetime ban past year.
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If you would like to donate to the Community Blood Center to help Orlando victims, you must be 16 years or older and have not donated in the last 52 days.
Easier to buy a gun than donate blood? The ban has caused an uproar in the gay community.
“Whatever your blood type, whatever type of donation you give is especially needed now”.
All U.S. blood donations are screened for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
The same legislation exists in the United Kingdom too, with ministers saying a year ago that they would “look again” at the prohibition against gay and bisexual men giving blood.
“We’re asking local residents come forward this week to replenish local blood supplies to help save lives here at home while taking a meaningful stand for victims in Orlando”, Axelrod said.
Centers in Orlando are look for “O” negative, “O’ positive and AB donors but it excludes gay men like David Gray”.
In the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, gay men discovered that they are still facing strict requirements for blood donation.
Caroline King of the Red Cross says the blood bank is typically closed Monday, and opening would not have changed the wait time associated with properly testing and delivering blood.
“Their inventory is back in fine shape, if you will”, Fagan said of OneBlood in Orlando.
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Anyone interested in donating blood can contact the Blood Center of Wisconsin.
