The FDA just cleared the way for hospitals to begin using blood plasma to treat patients with coronavirus. Patients who have recovered from COVID-19 and who now carry the antibody for the virus are being encouraged to donate blood to help others.
There’s just one caveat.
Sexually active gay and bisexual men need not bother donating.
The FDA says it’s upholding its 12-month restriction on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, despite a nationwide blood shortage and a letter signed by 17 Democratic senators urging the agency to revisit its discriminatory deferral policy.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
“As such, it is imperative that we move away from discriminatory donor deferral policies that prohibit many healthy individuals from contributing much-needed blood and blood products,” the letter states.
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis called for the “antiquated ban” to be “immediately lifted.”
“The FDA cannot let an outdated and discriminatory ban on blood donations from gay and bi men get in the way of potentially life-saving treatment for the country’s painful current health crisis,” she says.
“Gay and bi men who have recovered from COVID-19 and want to donate plasma, or who want to help contribute to a nationwide shortage of blood, are banned from doing so as a result of the FDA. Continuing to enforce this antiquated policy is dangerous, irresponsible, and flies in the face of recommendations from medical experts.”
A spokesperson for the FDA says the agency “is aware there has been a significant reduction in blood and plasma donations around the country” and that its “working with the blood banking and source plasma industries” to find a solution.
It’s still not lifting the restriction though. Meanwhile, the U.S. coronavirus death toll just surpassed 4,000 today.
Related: The FDA said he couldn’t give blood because he’s gay… so he donated a kidney in protest
Jared MacBride
This ban never made sense and it certainly doesn’t now.
jayceecook
It sort of made sense as a temporary measure during the early days of the HIV epidemic when little was known about transmission. Now it’s just antiquated institutional discrimination.
djmcgamester
The test for HIV as a general rule so this is nonsensical.
yah_sure_youbetcha
We should be able to donate blood for our own community, or at least donate and stockpile for our own use
Den
All donated blood is tested for HIV and the various Hep. viruses as well as other pathogens, and even where HIV antibodies are present, platelets and plasma is still of use.
The ban is silly and antiquated.
Especially now where what is needed is plasma and isolates from plasma from specific people!
Imjustsaying
A discrimination lawsuit for I think the technical term “a shitload” of money might snap them into 2020.
Aires the Ram
As another mentioned, this ban was put in place during the early days of the HIV epidemic. Is it antiquated today? Yes. As another said, all donated blood is tested. But my point in posting, is this: If you knew you were free of HIV/Hep/etc., and wanted to donate blood, why the HELL would you march into the blood donation center and ANNOUNCE that you were “gay”??? ESPECIALLY knowing that would get you banned. IF you did do that, you would be doing nothing more than seeking attention, and seeking yet another reason to consider yourself a “victim”.
1898
that’s not how it works. they sit down with you and take a full medical history. this includes your sexual history. giving false information during this interview is illegal
Bromancer7
At this point even if they lifted the ban I wouldn’t give. F*ck ’em.