Gay Men Still Not Allowed to Donate Blood

To the dismay of many gay rights activists, politicians, and blood donation groups, Health and Human Services has chosen not to recommend a lift on the ban against gay men donating blood. Advocates have been fighting for years to get the ban lifted or revised. The ban was put in place in 1985. It states that any man who has had sex with a man since 1977 is forever banned from donating blood.

Science has proven this ban is unnecessary, but proponents claim it is more about what Americans feel. The committee did not feel there was enough scientific proof that would warrant a change to the ban. People need to feel comfortable with a blood transfusion and many, especially those around in the 1980s, would not trust any blood if a gay man donated it for fear of contracting the AIDS virus. Although screening techniques have advanced a great deal, some people would still not want the blood of a gay man. Therein lies the problem. Even though the likelihood  of contracting the disease is very rare, it is all about public perception.

The FDA has the final say on the matter but advocates for the removal of the ban do not hold out much hope it will be changed. The HHS does not believe the small amount of blood that would be put into blood banks is worth the risk. Experts have estimated an additional 219,000 pints of blood would be added every year if the ban was lifted. Gay right advocates call the ban discriminatory, archaic and irresponsible.