Every year World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is observed globally on June 24, to express gratitude to blood donors who save lives by donating blood. 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 previous year.
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In addition to those who were killed, 53 people were injured in the shooting a Pulse in Orlando.
“Unfortunately this tragedy reminds us that sometimes these things can happen anywhere, and the need for continuous blood donation to provide a stable blood supply is important”, said Belanger.
As a gay woman, she felt it was her duty to come in and give blood.
But the Alaska Blood Bank isn’t following the new guidelines. They can donate blood, provided that they have not had sex with another man in the last 12 months.
Jose Vega with Oklahomans for Equality said the rules are heartbreaking at a time most gay men want to help out in any way they can to comfort victims that shared their same sexual orientation.
Although Yates did not know any of the victims personally, he says for many it still hits home.
Yet for Kelsey Louie, CEO of Gay Men’s Health Crisis, even if the FDA had issued a temporary lift, it would not be a strong enough solution.
Officials said there are some people who would like to donate blood but aren’t eligible, including several members of the LGBTQ community, who the shooting deeply impacted.
But, one group isn’t necessarily welcomed to help the cause, and for many of them it all hits very close to home.
This isn’t the first time the Oklahoma Blood Institute has been able to give blood across the country.
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The thoughts and deepest sympathies of the entire American Red Cross family are with the people of Orlando and those affected by Sunday morning’s tragic shooting.
