US Government to Reconsider Ban on Gay Men's Blood Donation

[UrbScotty]

Source: The Cleveland Leader

Under regulations by the US Food and Drug Administration, men who have had sex - even just once - with another man since 1977 are not permitted to donate blood. This has been in effect since 1983, and was initially inspired by concerns that HIV was tainting the blood supply.

Screening tests to identify HIV positive blood, at the time, were not yet developed, and the policy was enacted as a safety measure. Today, with more accurate testing available, activists, blood organizations and a few US senators are saying that the lifetime ban is "medically and scientifically unwarranted" and are calling for a change.

The issue will be considered by the Federal Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability during meetings on June 10 and 11 in Rockville, Maryland. The committee makes recommendations to the Dept. of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA.

The American Red Cross, America's Blood Centers, AABB, and the Human Rights Campaign all support easing the lifetime ban to allow gay blood donors. Medical opinions on the issue vary - some say lifting the ban could pose health risks to blood recipients.

Read more: http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/13913

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I hope the ban is lifted.

I introduced a resolution that was approved at last year's county and state Democratic conventions (I'm in Michigan) that called on policymakers to lift the ban.

[ZombieHorde]

1. Recommended. nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I hope they lift the ban as well...

The testing is so very accurate now.

And there's a huge group of donors who are more than willing to give this gift of life.

[Politicub]

3. This would be a great step forward

It's long past time to do away with this vestige of homophobia from the Reagan administration.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. It's not homophobic...

There were very good reasons for it.

HIV is carried directly in the blood, and for a long time, the testing was inadequate. Safety is a huge priority.

But now that the testing is so good, it's time to lift this ban.

[David__77]

8. Strictly as a health measure, there was nothing wrong with that.

I'm gay, and I recognize that the AIDS issue was used to bludgeon us politically, but I do not think that the measure, at that time, was wrong. It was, with the lack of adequate safety measures like testing, a proper measure based on sexual activity and not sexual orientation per se. Now I see no need for it.

[Politicub]

12. Go ahead. Defend away. But it's time for the regulation to go.

And it has enough defenders without you or anyone else on DU making sure to give cover to how it was reasonable at the time.

To hell with that position. It was borne from fear and homophobia and thus immoral from the start.

[David__77]

13. I'm not defending the fear, I'm defending the policy and only at that time.

If I were a policymaker at that time, I would have to support that measure, and it wouldn't be out of being anti-gay, that's for sure. If anything I'd be wanting to prevent the explosion of HIV that was to ravage the gay community. I'm not saying public health and civil rights are mutually exclusive, but they are distinct.

[Canuckistanian]

4. The Canadian Red Cross is being urged to follow suit

Time to drop ban on gay blood donors, experts say
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-drop-ban-on-gay-blood-donors-experts-say/article1580575/

It is time to drop a discriminatory policy that bars gay men from donating blood in Canada, several leading HIV-AIDS researchers said in an article published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

They suggested the policy, which dates back to a time when there was no effective way to screen donated blood for the HIV virus, should be modified to permit gay men in long-term, monogamous relationships to donate blood.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. There's a review under way in the UK too

http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/current_issues/mhsm100408.html

It's due to report some time this summer.

[RantinRavin]

6. Great news.

Now how about the ban on military personnel that served in the U.K. during the late 80's ans 90's.....

[Love Bug]

11. That's a different issue

I don't think they have a test yet for detecting mad cow prions in the blood. I can't donate, either, because I lived in Germany in 80-81.

[WillParkinson]

7. Awesome...now we just need to have a study, followed by a compromise...

And, yeah, I'm a wee bit bitter. :-)

[DeadEyeDyck]

9. when I am down a quart

I won't be asking where it came from, dontcha know!

[Green_Lantern]

14. it shouldn't be lifted...there is also a "ban" on heterosexuals

Who have unprotected sex with partners. This isn't about homophobia, it is about looking at actions that increase the risk of HIV.

Sorry but I don't think we can just assume testing blood for HIV is 100% reliable. Yeah it might be accurate but I doubt they'll be able to test every bag of blood.

If this was based on homophobia why are gay women allowed to donate?