As the COVID-19 crisis rages on and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams begs citizens to donate blood to alleviate a growing need, LGBTQ activists have once again called on the FDA to lift a years-old ban on gay men from donating.
In the midst of the calls for more blood donors, GLAAD spokesperson Sarah Kate Ellis took the community’s frustration to Twitter, saying “The antiquated ban that still prevents gay and bisexual men, and men who have sex with men from donating blood must be immediately lifted by the @US_FDA. Currently, all men who have had sex with men in the past 12 months can not donate blood. Leading medical experts have highlighted for years that the ban is ineffective and doesn’t rely on science.”
The antiquated ban that still prevents gay and bisexual men, and men who have sex with men from donating blood must be immediately lifted by the @US_FDA. https://t.co/cPpHLEbTAF
— Sarah Kate Ellis (@sarahkateellis) March 19, 2020
Ellis’ words echo those of the American Red Cross late last year, when the organization also called on the FDA to lift the ban. “We also strongly support the expanded use of new technologies to work toward elimination of donor eligibility questions that would no longer be necessary.”
Related: Are We About To See The End Of The Blood Ban Against Gay And Bi Men?
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California Senator Scott Weiner, an openly gay man, has also criticized the blood ban. “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting stay-at-home orders and social distancing rules, our blood banks are experiencing a severe blood shortage and desperately need blood donations,” Wiener wrote in a statement. “This blood shortage threatens lives. Yet, despite this emergency need, the FDA continues to take a non-science-based approach by irrationally excluding sexually active gay and bisexual men from donating…The reality is that blood banks test all blood for HIV, and modern testing techniques are overwhelmingly accurate in detecting and discarding HIV-positive blood.”
The so-called gay blood ban is a holdover from the height of the AIDS crisis when HIV testing was still in its infancy. Several notable early AIDS patients, like Ryan White, contracted the disease from blood transfusions. The FDA eased prohibitions against gay men donating blood in 2015; revised rules now say that gay men may donate blood after one year of celibacy. Other countries like the UK have reduced the celibacy period to only three months. Nevertheless, activists continue to criticize the ban, as heterosexual people who engage in risky sexual behavior face no celibacy period.
D_Bro
I have been wondering about this. Before the ban I had donated a gallon total. 9 years ago I had an emergency and required 5 transfusions. I thank god for those 5 people that saved my life and I want to “pay it forward”. It makes no sense that we as active gay/bisexual men are not allowed to do our part with blood/marrow donation.
Tempus
I would expect they’d be a little nervous about blood donations at the moment as they have limited tests for people so I’m not certain if the blood would be adequately tested as one would presume you can get COVID-19 from a transfusion. Still, getting to the point the ban is stupid. Having known someone with HIV I get the concern but surely is 2020 there are ways to test a person and/or their blood donation to insure it’s viable/safe without turning away willing donors. In this age if there isn’t a way to insure the safety of the blood then they need to invent a method as anyone could lie about their sexual orientation or sexual activity in order to donate not to mention anyone of any sexual orientation can have HIV.
trsxyz
Good article. I wasn’t aware this was still a thing.
djmcgamester
I didn’t think the ban was still in effect. I can’t give blood for other reasons but I thought the gay part was over. Wait, just looked. You CAN give blood…if the last time you had sex with another man was over 12 months ago. It’s stupid. They screen all blood they receive. If the blood is “bad” then they don’t use it. You could just as easily have a heterosexual intravenous drug user donate blood.
On the other hand, if you’re determined to give blood, give blood. If you know you’ve taken every precaution (condoms, brothers, not PrEP) then go for it. Honestly, doing the right thing is way more important that a ban based on outdated ideas.
sillyme
I wasn’t even aware of it either or that it was still in effect at all, I remember the ban back in the 80’s but for it to still be in effect is ludicrous above measure of anything.
yah_sure_youbetcha
Y’all really didn’t know that ban was still in effect? There’s been tremendous pushback against efforts to get out lifted, for years. I hate to resent the Red Cross, but it’s hard not to sometimes.
Bob
Last I heard, even the Red Cross wants the ban lifted. It’s the FDA.