Both the Red Cross and America's Blood Centers, which together represent 800. hospitals and a desire to get plasma with antibodies from COVID-19 survivors. This page includes information on current policies that apply to MSM who are interested in blood donation, as well as the latest updates on efforts to expand donor eligibility. NBC News found that despite the rule change hundreds of the nation’s blood centers are still unable to accept blood from gay men, even though there's a desperate need for blood at U.S. As such, AABB encourages the adoption of safe and effective donor eligibility and screening processes based on assessment of individual donor risk for all blood donors. Starting June 8, the wait time is three months. However, other processes, such as individual donor risk assessment, may provide a safe and effective path forward for more men who have sex with men (MSM) to donate blood without risk to blood safety.ĪABB is committed to maintaining the safety of the blood supply and building a strong altruistic culture that encourages continued blood donation. Currently, men who have sex with other men, referred to as MSM by the Red Cross, cannot donate blood within 12 months of having sex with another man. That’s why AABB has led efforts to make blood donation inclusive of non-binary donors and continues to champion the adoption of equitable, science-based eligibility processes that welcome LGBTQ+ blood donors, strengthen the blood supply and save lives.Ĭurrent Food and Drug Administration policy allows for gay and bisexual men to donate blood 3 months after their most recent sexual contact with another man if they meet all other eligibility criteria. In July 2016, France implemented a 1-year deferral period policy on all gay and bisexual men donating blood.
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In 2021, the deferral period in Finland was reduced to 4 months. At AABB, we believe that the ability to save lives through blood donation should be open to as many people as possible, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity. By the early afternoon on June 12, hours after a gunman slaughtered 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, hundreds of sympathizers had lined up to donate blood to the 53 young men and women who. Right now in the U.S., gay and bisexual men (often referred to as MSM, or men who have sex with men) are not allowed to give blood if they’ve had sex with another man in the past three months. In December 2013, the Finnish Red Cross blood service announced it was lifting the ban and introducing a one-year deferral instead.
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The FDA listens to Red Cross's recommendations about blood, so even though FDA was ready to lift the ban 20 years ago, red cross said 'no, don't do it danger will. Blood donors give a gift for which there is no substitute. Long answer: Because Elizabeth Dole was president of Red Cross for a very long time, she's a very serious right winger, and used her position to push discrimination against gay men.