Gay, BiSexual Men Could Soon Donate Blood
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FORT WORTH (CBS 11 NEWS) - For decades, the fear of AIDS led to a ban against gay men donating blood. But that could all be changing.
The FDA lifetime restriction on blood donations from gay men, which has been in place since 1983, could be coming to an end.
When the restriction was enacted, gay men were considered high risk carriers of HIV, which could be transmitted through blood.
A reverse policy is now on the table, and people like Rafael McDonnell, a gay man working for Dallas' Resource Center, say lifting the blood donor ban is eliminating bias against those tied to gay communities.
"This is really one of the last of the big policies that explicitly discriminated against LGBT folks, simply because they were LGBT. It was born of another era," he said.
Others agreed.
"I know there are instances where people in the community can help out, but just because of a questionnaire they can't," said Dallas business owner Mark Milburn, who also happens to be a gay man.
In Dallas' Sip Stir Cafe, no one viewed the restriction as something that should be kept in place.
"I think that seems silly, there's a shortage of blood you should be able to give blood. You don't know who or who isn't contaminated, so don't judge based on lifestyle," said Dallas resident Katherine Magnuson.
The American Red Cross issued the following statement: "We believe the FDA indefinite deferral of blood donation by men having sex with men is medically and scientifically unwarranted."
The FDA is reviewing the issue, starting today, during a two-day meeting in Washington DC.
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