Men who have sex with men can only give blood if they abstain from having sex for a year.
Therefore, we stand in full support of updating the blood donor eligibility guidelines and encourage the FDA to act quickly. New York Blood Center believes in making blood donation more accessible to the LGBTQ+ community. The FDA is currently conducting studies to determine if gender neutral questions, and other measures of HIV risk, would be achievable by revising the donor questionnaire. 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. This was a positive step to reduce deferral periods and welcome more donors to help save lives. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) modified its policy of an indefinite deferral to a deferral for men who have had sex with men (MSM) in the last three months to give blood. LGBTQ+ Blood Donor Eligibility GuidelinesĪs of April 2020, the U.S. We value diversity in our community, donors, and team members, and we work to treat all with fairness, equality and respect. The Associated Press contributed to this report.New York Blood Center's workforce and donor base includes diverse individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientation. As per the new rule, men had to have a gap of one year after any sexual contact with another man only then can they be eligible for blood donation. Previously, there was an indefinite ban on donations. Initially, a lifetime ban was placed and no gay man could donate blood. Participants tried to donate blood, but were turned down due to. Austria: 4 months 4 months A 1-year deferral was implemented following the publication of standardized donor history questionnaire in December 2019. A person is tested during the first gay mens blood drive, held at the Memorial Blood Center in St. The new coronavirus can't be spread through blood. Gay and bi men on PrEP still have a 1-year deferral period however can donate plasma after 3 months. 2 Soon thereafter, the American Osteopathic Association adopted a similar stance. We will keep fighting until the deferral period is lifted and gay and bi men, and all LGBTQ people, are treated equal to others."ĭonated blood is screened for a number of infectious diseases, including HIV. The American Medical Association declared that the lifetime ban on blood donation for men who have sex with men was discriminatory and not based on sound science. The FDA's decision to lower the deferral period on men who have sex with men from 12 months to 3 months is a step towards being more in line with science, but remains imperfect. "This is a victory for all of us who raised our collective voices against the discriminatory ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood. "LGBTQ Americans can hold their heads up today and know that our voices will always triumph over discrimination," GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. Read more about changes to blood donation rules for. Andrew Goldstein, shown in his lab at UCLA, is participating in a study that could lead federal regulators to. Gay rights groups have continued to challenge that policy, saying it's unnecessary given current testing technology and continues to stigmatize gay and bisexual men. Currently, all men must wait 3 months after having oral or anal sex with another man before donating. Giving blood has been off limits for many gay men. In 2015, the FDA moved from a total ban to the one-year abstinence period for men who have sex with men. I want to give but if theyre going to be prejudiced assholes then I dont care. It isnt that we shouldnt but that legally we arent allowed. There is a difference between morals and legal issues. and many other countries have long restricted donations from gay and bisexual men and several other groups due to the risk of spreading HIV through the blood supply. It is illegal for a gay guy to lie about his sexual orientation for blood donation.
Peter Marks, the director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a news release. "These changes are being put forth for immediate implementation and are expected to remain in place after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, with any appropriate changes based on comments we receive and our experience implementing the guidance," Dr.