For the last thirty years, gay men have not been able to donate blood. The ban required a 12-month “deferral period” during which homosexual men would have to wait—and abstain from sex—before donating blood.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the “most current scientific evidence”—which mirrors that of Australia and the United Kingdom, among others—suggests that this prohibition is no longer necessary.
While a ban like this may seem prejudiced or discriminatory, it is important to remember that the policy dates all the way back to 1983. It regulates that any many who had sex with another man—even once—since 1977, could not donate blood for at least a year. This was during the early AIDS crisis when we did not know very much about HIV and many public officials were concerned that homosexual activity encouraged spread of the disease.
“The FDA’s responsibility is to maintain a high level of blood product safety for people whose lives depend on it,” explains FDA Acting Commissioner Stephen Ostroff. “We have taken great care to ensure this policy revision is backed by sound science and continues to protect our blood supply.”
Of course, that was a very long time ago; and some advocacy groups have long worked to end the ban. And even though the FDA has ended the ban, The National Gay Blood Drive, argues that “the revised policy is still discriminatory.”
Although they support the shift, the group tells, “While many gay and bisexual men will be eligible to donate their blood and help safe lives under this 12-month deferral, countless more will continue to be banned solely on the basis of their sexual orientation and without medical or scientific reasoning.”
Still, on Monday, the FDA said that they examined the most recent studies and compared existing epidemiologic data with other countries in order to finish this revision.
In a statement, FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research deputy director Peter Marks, explains, “In reviewing our policies to help reduce the risk of HIV transmission through blood products, we rigorously examined several alternative options. Ultimately, the 12-month deferral window is supported by the best available scientific evidence, at this point in time, relevant to the U.S. population. We will continue to actively conduct research in this area and further revise our policies as new data emerge.”
[graphiq id=”f61hb9peheZ” title=”Percentage of Adults Who Donate Blood in the United States” width=”600″ height=”534″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/f61hb9peheZ” link=”http://time-series.findthedata.com/l/12597/Percentage-of-Adults-Who-Donate-Blood-in-the-United-States” link_text=”Percentage of Adults Who Donate Blood in the United States | FindTheData”]
