The discriminatory blood ban based on sexual orientation is over, but what does that mean?
As of Monday, new policies are in effect regarding who can donate blood. No longer will gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men be discriminated against for their sexual orientation after being banned, in some form, from participating in life-saving blood donation for nearly 40 years. Additionally, no attention is paid to whether somebody is transgender, intersex or gender-nonconforming.
Recently, The Advocate spoke with the Director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Dr. Peter Marks, to discuss the FDA’s new guidelines regarding blood donations in the United States.
Those new guidelines that previously excluded gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men no longer exclude people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Instead, they focus on the level of risk certain behaviors pose, according to the FDA.
What was the blood ban, and why were gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men excluded from giving blood?
In 1985s, after falsely labeling HIV and AIDS “gay diseases,” the FDA banned lifetime blood donations for men who had sexual relations with another man since 1977. In addition, the FDA banned sex workers, people living with HIV, and intravenous drug users from donating blood. It was reduced to a one-year deferral period in 2015, and after the COVID-19 pandemic caused blood shortages in April 2020, it was reduced to three months of celibacy.
What are the new guidelines?
Effective August 7, 2023, potential blood donors will be screened using an updated questionnaire. No more gender-specific deferrals or screening questions about sex between men and women will be conducted. In adopting risk-based regulations, the United States will follow the United Kingdom and Canada.
Who can donate blood under the new policy?
Queer men in monogamous relationships can now give blood. All potential donors will be screened using a new questionnaire about that person's risks for HIV. That will include questions on their sexual behavior, recent sexual partners, and subjects.
Who can't donate blood under the new policy?
Potential donors who report having anal sex with new partners in the last three months won't be able to donate. Instead, they'll have to wait to donate blood.
Can I donate blood if I'm on PrEP or PEP?
Under the new regulations, people who take medications for PrEP or PEP are also not eligible to donate blood.
If every drop of blood in the blood supply is tested for pathogens, why are there still exclusions?
Dr. Peter Marks, Director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said that even though modern sensors are excellent at keeping the blood supply safe, screening is still necessary when collecting blood for donation.
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