Posted on May 12, 2023
More gay and bisexual men will now be able to donate blood under finalized FDA rules
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https://www.npr.org/2023/05/11/ [login to see] /fda-blood-donations-gay-bisexual-men
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Thursday it had officially eliminated restrictions that had previously prohibited many blood donations by gay and bisexual men — a longstanding policy that critics say is discriminatory.
In a news release, the federal agency said it will recommend a series of "individual risk-based questions" that will be the same for every blood donor, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender or sex. Those who have had anal sex with a new sexual partner, or more than one sexual partner, within the last three months would be asked to wait to donate blood.
"The implementation of these recommendations will represent a significant milestone for the agency and the LGBTQI+ community," Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in the release.
With the updated guidelines, most gay and bisexual men who are in a monogamous relationship with a man will no longer have to refrain from sex in order to donate blood.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Thursday it had officially eliminated restrictions that had previously prohibited many blood donations by gay and bisexual men — a longstanding policy that critics say is discriminatory.
In a news release, the federal agency said it will recommend a series of "individual risk-based questions" that will be the same for every blood donor, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender or sex. Those who have had anal sex with a new sexual partner, or more than one sexual partner, within the last three months would be asked to wait to donate blood.
"The implementation of these recommendations will represent a significant milestone for the agency and the LGBTQI+ community," Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in the release.
With the updated guidelines, most gay and bisexual men who are in a monogamous relationship with a man will no longer have to refrain from sex in order to donate blood.
More gay and bisexual men will now be able to donate blood under finalized FDA rules
Posted from npr.org
LGBTQ+
Medical
Health
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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What's the problem? If they are not HIV positive or Anemic or have some other reason why they can't donate then let them...BLOOD DOES NOT KNOW SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND SOMEBODY NEEDS IT!!!
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Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth
SA Tim Peter - Let me put this out there. I am not for the lifestyle...but I am for blood donations as I have persoanlly seen the need in a shortage and crisis time. Everyone can donate...taking blood from someone with this lifestyle isn't going to change anyone's beliefs except that there are good people in this world that took time to donate.
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Excellent post. Thank You for sharing this shipmate. I'm all for this, as long as they thoroughly check the blood they are receiving.
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More folks donating blood is a good thing.
Some of us are still prohibited from donating, regardless of sexual orientation or medical history. Much to may amazement, being assigned to Europe for more than 6 months in the 1980s is enough to prevent one from donating. It has to do with both exposure to Mad Cow disease, and TB. I was there 7 years - one long tour. I learned about this in the early 90s, and it was still policy just a few years ago.
Some of us are still prohibited from donating, regardless of sexual orientation or medical history. Much to may amazement, being assigned to Europe for more than 6 months in the 1980s is enough to prevent one from donating. It has to do with both exposure to Mad Cow disease, and TB. I was there 7 years - one long tour. I learned about this in the early 90s, and it was still policy just a few years ago.
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