FDA to make easier for gay and bisexual men to donate blood : Shots - Health News : NPR

gay donor blood ban

For the first time, the Bin admistratn is mentg on the Food and Dg Admistratn’s long-time blood donatn guil impactg gay men.

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FDA DROPS BLOOD DONATN RTRICTNS SPECIFIC TO GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN

The Food and Dg Admistratn has dropped all rtrictns specific to gay and bisexual men donatg blood. * gay donor blood ban *

The Food and Dg Admistratn has dropped all rtrictns specific to gay and bisexual men donatg blood, a move long anticipated by public health experts and gay rights new guidance, first proposed January and falized Thursday, will not rtrict donatns based on someone's sexual orientatn or genr inty, and stead move towards an "dividual risk-based" approach to rce the risk of accintal HIV fectn through the blood donatn FDA origally banned donatns om gay and bisexual men the midst of the 1980s HIV/AIDS crisis. For example, the HIV epimic has spread far beyond gay and bisexual men, wh women acuntg for roughly 1 5 new HIV diagnos the Uned Stat, acrdg to the most recent CDC data available. Peter Ch-Hong, an fect disease specialist at the Universy of California, San 2015, the FDA relaxed an outright ban on donatns om gay and bisexual men, but the 2015 guidance asked men to absta om sex for at least one year before Thursday's falized guidance, every prospective donor will be asked about their sexual history wh the past three months -- regardls of their sexual orientatn.

""The FDA's cisn to follow science and issue new remendatns for all Amerins, regardls of sexual orientatn, who selflsly donate blood to help save liv, signals the begng of the end of a dark and discrimatory past rooted fear and homophobia, " Sarah Kate Ellis, the print and CEO of GLAAD, said a statement, however, took issue wh one part of the updated remendatn, which urg ferral for anyone takg HIV meditns -- cludg people who are HIV negative who are takg meditns lled PrEP to prevent ferral perd uld ntue to erect barriers to LGBTQ blood donors, she said.

S., the Red Cross, along wh One Blood, Valant and partner LGBTQ+ muny health centers, are participatg a pilot study fund by the FDA select ci that uld potentially lead to chang for blood donor eligibily creria for gay and bisexual men.

LETTG GAY MEN DONATE BLOOD COULD HELP SOLVE A MAJOR HEALTH CRISIS

Learn about feral regulatns related to blood donatn by Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenr, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and Genr non-nformg (LGBTQ+) dividuals. * gay donor blood ban *

But there is one easily implementable solutn to the natnal blood-supply shortage that’s been available for years and uld be a lifele: allowg gay and bisexual men to donate eely. S., gay and bisexual men (often referred to as MSM, or “men who have sex wh men”) are not allowed to give blood if they’ve had sex wh another man the past three months. “It is my opn that we ntue to have a real problem wh laws and regulatns based on fear rather than science, ” she ntuatn of a MSM-specific barrier to givg is not only limg the blood supply, ’s unnecsary and “rooted homophobia, ” explas Perry N.

”In 2015, theFDA loosened s rtrictn, permtg gay and bisexual men to donate blood as long as they hadn’t had sex wh another man the past year. For example, if you’re a gay man who wears ndoms durg sex, you lim your risk of ntractg HIV.

FDA LIFTS BAN ON BLOOD DONATN FOR GAY, BISEXUAL MEN

Gay and bisexual men face a time-based ban on givg blood. But fairer practic uld help save over a ln people a year whout the risk of spreadg HIV. * gay donor blood ban *

Same go for gay men who are married or a long-term monogamo relatnship. Conducted tanm wh the natn’s largt blood centers—the Amerin Red Cross, Valant, and OneBlood—the rearch effort will survey 2, 000 gay and bisexual men across the untry between the ag of 18 and 30 who have had sex wh at least one man the past three months. ”The policy change uld have a signifint posive effect on the mental health of gay and bisexual men, too.

It also puts gay and bisexual men at higher risk for acquirg HIV over time. “Social and stctural factors that e gay men to feel othered e them to engage risky sexual behavr, ” Halkis says.

So a ban like this isn’t jt harmful to the Amerin public; “’s credibly harmful to the gay muny, both emotnally and physilly.

GAY MEN NOW ABLE TO DONATE BLOOD UTAH AFTER S-LONG BAN

Long cricized as discrimatory, the policy has prevented many gay and bisexual men om donatg blood. The Food and Dg Admistratn revealed a draft of s new approach on Friday. * gay donor blood ban *

The first step is to sign GLAAD’s petn at You then n—and should—te those around you, “sce many people, cludg gay and bi men, don’t know that this ban exists, ” adds Lasky.

Let them know you don’t support discrimatory practic that ban gay and bisexual men om dog their civic duty.

UTAH’S ARUP BLOOD SERVIC TO EASE RTRICTNS ON GAY, BISEXUAL MALE DONORS

Amid crisis natn’s blood supply, ’s time to pursue a ratnal approach and stop policy that prevents many gay and bisexual men om givg blood. * gay donor blood ban *

Origally, gay and bisexual men were pletely prohibed om donatg blood. " In craftg the new guidance, the FDA has been lookg to the rults of a study of about 1, 600 gay and bisexual men to velop screeng qutns that n intify potential donors who are most likely to be fected wh HIV.

So monogamo gay men uld start donatg blood aga sometime 2023. The Food and Dg Admistratn (FDA) has lifted a s-long ban on sexually active gay and bisexual men om donatg blood, overlg a rtrictn datg back to the 1980s AIDS crisis. Advot have long fought that the l were discrimatory agast sexually active gay and bisexual men.

“It’s a discrimatory policy that assum that HIV is a gay disease, and is very much not, ” GLAAD’s Tony Morrison told NPR. Wh the natn’s blood supply at s lowt pot a , and the Amerin Red Cross clarg s first-ever natnal blood crisis earlier this month, is time for the Food and Dg Admistratn (FDA) to do somethg the AMA and others have urged for years: remove s discrimatory ban that prevents many gay and bisexual men om beg blood donors. The existg ban requir gay or bisexual men to absta om sex for a mimum of three months before they n donate blood.

CANADA TO LIFT BLOOD DONATN BAN ON SEXUALLY ACTIVE GAY, BISEXUAL MEN

Gay men who were once unable to donate blood were able to participate blood driv for the very first time. * gay donor blood ban *

The roots of limatns agast gay and bisexual blood donors date back to the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Close this ntentKSTUKSTUJuly 19, 2023 at 8:17 AMGay men who were once unable to donate blood were able to participate blood driv for the very first time.

Eas Ban on Blood Donatns From Gay and Bisexual Men ADVERTISEMENTThe NewsThe Food and Dg Admistratn announced on Thursday that had formally end the agency’s wi-rangg prohibn on blood donatns om gay and bisexual men, a longstandg policy that had been nounced as discrimatory. They fell durg and after the panmic wh the crease school- and office-based blood old l were far more rtrictive screeng out gay or bisexual men.

Advocy group, appld the change as an end to “a dark and discrimatory past rooted fear and homophobia. A policy change years the makg, on Thursday Health Canada approved Canadian Blood Servic’ submissn to elimate the three-month donor ferral perd for gay and bisexual men as well as some other folks the LGBTQ2S+ muny.

F.D.A. EAS BAN ON BLOOD DONATNS FROM GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN

A policy change years the makg, on Thursday Health Canada approved Canadian Blood Servic' submissn to elimate the three-month donor ferral perd for gay and bisexual men as well as some other folks the LGBTQ2S+ muny. * gay donor blood ban *

This means Canadian Blood Servic prohibs gay and bisexual men who have sex wh men, as well as certa trans people who have sex wh men, om donatg blood unls they have been abstent for three months.

For years LGBTQ2S+ advot and those who are prohibed om donatg have voice their tratn, sayg the policy is discrimatory, homophobic, and not based science. Canadians n have nfince their blood system and gay men or men who have sex wh men n now donate blood and save another person’s life. Out gay Conservative MP Eric Dunn, who gaed notoriety 2020 for challengg the ernment the Hoe over the policy and sharg his personal experience of beg unable to donate, qutned why ’ll still be months before the policy change is implemented.

Gay and bisexual men England, Stland, and Wal n now donate blood, plasma and platelets unr certa circumstanc whout havg to wa three months, the Natnal Health Service announced this week.

GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN ARE NOW ALLOWED TO DONATE BLOOD IN ENGLAND, STLAND AND WAL

Gay and bisexual men are still rtricted om givg blood, a move that LGBTQ activists ll discrimatory. * gay donor blood ban *

Gay and bisexual men England, Stland, and Wal n now donate blood, plasma and platelets unr certa circumstanc, the Natnal Health Service announced this week a momento shift policy for most of the U. Begng Monday, gay men sexually active, monogamo relatnships for at least three months n donate for the first time.

S, the abily for gay and bisexual men to donate blood is still rtricted.

GAY MEN STILL FACE HURDL TO DONATE BLOOD AMID NATNAL SHORTAGE

The agency n't qu blanket bans that target gay and bisexual men. * gay donor blood ban *

A ban on gay and bisexual blood donors has been effect sce the early 1980s when fears about HIV/AIDS were wispread. Dpe this urgent need for donatns, people who have sex wh gay or bisexual men are still facg rtrictns on their abily to give Food and Dg Admistratn bars people who have had sex wh gay or bisexual men om donatg blood for three months followg the most recent sexual ntact bee of fears of HIV the blood agency changed the ferral perd om 12 months to three months November 2020 as blood donatns fell and hospals faced cril shortag durg the first year of the COVID-19 advot, cludg the Human Rights Campaign, say the FDA is movg too slowly on removg the rtrictn, sayg that 's an outright ban on the abily of people, particularly gay and bisexual men, to donate blood. Rtrictns on blood donatns om gay and bisexual men, who are nsired to be at high risk for HIV or AIDS transmissn, date back to the and bisexual men unrgo dividual risk asssments stead of time-based bans untri around the world, recently cludg Greece and France, acrdg to ternatnal reports.

A person is tted durg the first gay men's blood drive, held at the Memorial Blood Center St.

The event was held to prott feral l that effectively ban gay men om donatg Bispg/Star Tribune via Getty Imag, FILEValant told ABC News a new statement that rearchers are halfway toward s goal of enrollg 2, 000 participants across eight ci: Washgton D.

THE “GAY BLOOD BAN” ISN’T OVER

* gay donor blood ban *

They enurage gay and bisexual men who are 18 to 39 years old to participate the FDA, a statement to ABC News, said that this study uld generate data that will help the agency terme if a donor's dividual risk asssment and qutnnaire would be jt as effective rcg the risk of HIV the blood supply as the time-based ferrals the FDA already has FDA also said do not have a specific timele for when the studi will be pleted but that is "mted to gatherg the scientific data that n support alternative donor ferral polici that mata a high level of blood safety. The “Gay Blood Ban” Isn’t Over. The updated remendatns have been herald the news and by advot alike as an end to the so-lled “gay blood ban.

Now, only HIV-negative gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex wh men who do not e PrEP and who are abstent om anal sex for at least three months, or are a sexually monogamo relatnship (or believe themselv to be), are able to donate blood.

BIN ADMISTRATN SPEAKS OUT ON FERAL BLOOD DONATN POLICY IMPACTG GAY MEN AMID NATNAL BLOOD SHORTAGE

A gay man  Ontar will be urt later this month argug that Health Canada discrimat agast him by overseeg the ban preventg men who recently have had sex wh other men om donatg blood. The feral ernment is tryg to block that challenge. * gay donor blood ban *

—but PrEP is overwhelmgly ed by men, most of whom are gay or bisexual. The FDA’s new l not only muddle the msage of this val effort, but they mean the policy is not an end to the “gay blood ban” at all, bee so many such men are still exclud—men who, aga, are takg a proactive step to protect their health. It’s unclear exactly how many people take PrEP, but Centers for Disease Control and Preventn data suggts at least 35 percent of gay and bisexual men nsired at “high risk” of HIV do—a cisn health thori endorse.

The agency now ns the risk of stg a shadow on PrEP e and ntug to stigmatize gay and bisexual men—a damagg mistake that this long-awaed change policy was meant to rrect. Calgary paramedic 'elated' as Canada ends blood ban for men who have sex wh menBlood service remends endg ban on gay men donatg bloodInstead of beg asked about genr or sexualy, potential donors will be screened on higher-risk sexual behavur, such as anal sex.

DOCTORS SAY 'S TIME TO END BAN ON BLOOD DONATNS OM GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN

Christopher Karas, who filed a human rights plat agast Health Canada to remove the ferral, says the policy still stigmatiz gay, bisexual men, and some transgenr people. Christopher Karas, a gay man who filed a human rights plat agast Health Canada, says the new policy still stigmatiz gay and bisexual men. (Evan Msui/CBC)"But I know that a lot of gay, bi men and trans people will still be barred by this policy, so I thk 's a b unfortunate that the ernment has cid this is the approach they want to take, " said Karas.

"What they're sayg is that gay and bi men and transgenr [people]... Prevly, the feral ernment has tried to block Karas's urt challenge that argu Health Canada is discrimatg agast gay men by overseeg a ban that prevents men who have sex wh other men om donatg blood. ListenThere's no reason for Canada to ntue banng gay men om donatg blood, says journalistPEERS Alliance says end to ban on gay blood donatn has been 'a long time g'When prsed by reporters on whether Health Canada played a plic role the discrimatory policy, T said scientific evince was need and didn't exist.

For the first time, the Bin admistratn is mentg on the Food and Dg Admistratn's long-time blood donatn guil, which are impactg the LGBTQ+ muny by preventg gay and bisexual men om beg eligible blood statement, ma by a Whe Hoe official exclively to ABC News, acknowledg the paful origs of the policy and on the heels of the Amerin Red Cross clarg their first-ever natnal blood crisis last week, as suppli at hospals and blood banks bee dangeroly low.

GAY MAN FIGHTS 'DISCRIMATORY' POLICY THAT BANS HIM OM DONATG BLOOD. OTTAWA TRI TO BLOCK

Policy holds that sexually active gay or bisexual men mt absta om sex for at least three months before they're allowed to donate blood.

The le appli to gay and bisexual men who are monogamo and those who tt HIV negative and are practicg safe sex. It also clus gay and bisexual COVID-19 survivors who wish to donate nvalcent plasma, rich wh antibodi, for ’s PicksThe rtrictn on blood donatns me out of the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s, when limed ttg technology and pacy existed to screen blood for HIV.

In 1983, the FDA implemented a lifetime ban on blood donatns om all men who had sex wh men after FDA removed the lifetime ban and enacted a 12-month ferral perd 2015, meang gay or bisexual men had to absta om havg sex wh other men for at least 12 months before donatg blood. Medil profsnals Massachetts are llg on the FDA to rcd a longstandg policy that bars most gay men om donatg blood. "It's te that there's a higher prevalence of HIV among gay and bisexual men, but the vast majory of gay and bisexual men don't have HIV, " said Sean Cahill, director of health policy rearch for the Fenway Instute.

OUR SON WAS FIGHTG FOR HIS LIFE. A GAY BLOOD DONOR BAN BLOCKED OM GIVG HELP HE NEED.

"And so this kd of puts out this ia that HIV is a gay disease, and I really do thk ntribut to stigma and discrimatn agast gay men.

It's easier for someone to purchase a gun than for a gay man to donate blood, and that don't make any sense. Cahill said, as a gay man, the policy prevents him om givg blood. to allow gay and bisexual men to give blood after a year of no sex wh men.

the New England Journal of Medice last year lookg at the rults of a cisn by the Uned Kgdom to drop a siar ban, and llg for the Uned Stat to do the add the ban n put gay and bisexual men a difficult posn when blood driv are held, forcg them to disclose their sexualy, or seem like they're choosg not to participate an altistic Wu remembers the first time he learned that he was not able to give blood bee of his sexualy, at a blood drive llege. "As a gay man, there is somethg that strik a eply paful nerve by beg told that your blood is tated, that the blood that urs through you is que lerally worthy only of beg disrd, " he asked about the agency's current policy, an FDA spokperson poted to a study is fundg lled. A gay man  Ontar will be urt later this month argug that Health Canada discrimat agast him by overseeg the ban preventg men who recently have had sex wh other men om donatg feral ernment has been tryg to block that challenge, argug has no power to change Canadian Blood Servic' donor creria.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GAY DONOR BLOOD BAN

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href="/health/a35877353/gay-men-blood-donatn-eligibily/" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Breadcmbs" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="Lettg Gay Men Donate Blood Could Help Solve a Major Health Crisis" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" class="e9l0kn00 css-10e6ywj e1c1bym14"><span emProp="name">Lettg Gay Men Donate Blood Could Help Solve a Major Health Crisis</span></a><meta emProp="posn" ntent="2" /></li></ol></nav><style data-emotn="css sgwfvb">{font-fay:GraphikConnsed,GraphikConnsed-fallback,Helveti,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:normal;grid-lumn:1/-1;marg-bottom:0.9375rem;marg-top:0.9375rem;}@media(max-width: 48rem){{font-size:3rem;le-height:1.1;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{font-size:2.625rem;le-height:1.1;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{font-size:3.75rem;le-height:1.1;}}@media(m-width: 73.75rem){{font-size:3.75rem;le-height:1.1;}} em, i{paddg-right:0.3125rem;}</style><h1 class="css-sgwfvb exadjwu10"><span aria-hidn="te" class="css-0 eagam8p0"></span>Lettg Gay Men Donate Blood Could Help Solve a Major Health Crisis<span aria-hidn="te" class="css-0 eagam8p1"></span></h1><style data-emotn="css gpc83z">{lor:#595959;font-fay:GraphikBold,GraphikBold-fallback,Helveti,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:normal;marg-bottom:0.625rem;marg-top:0.625rem;text-align:center;}@media(max-width: 48rem){{font-size:1.125rem;le-height:1.2;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{font-size:1.125rem;le-height:1.2;}} a{-webk-text-ratn:unrle;text-ratn:unrle;text-ratn-thickns:0.0625rem;text-ratn-lor:her;text-unrle-offset:0.25rem;lor:her;-webk-transn:all 0.3s ease--out;transn:all 0.3s ease--out;} a:hover{lor:#d2232e;text-ratn-lor:borr-lk-body-hover;}</style><div class="css-gpc83z exadjwu8"><p>The U.S. fac a natnal blood shortage. Overturng a biased and outdated ban is not only the right thg— has enormo life-savg potential. </p></div><style data-emotn="css 61aae5">{lor:#6F6F6F;display:le;font-fay:GraphikBold,GraphikBold-fallback,Helveti,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacg:0.03rem;marg-bottom:0.625rem;paddg-right:0.3125rem;text-transform:upperse;}@media(max-width: 48rem){{font-size:0.71434rem;le-height:1.2;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{font-size:0.72308rem;le-height:1.2;}} span{le-height:1.6;}</style><div class="css-61aae5 exadjwu7"><style data-emotn="css l61bhe">{lor:#6F6F6F;display:le;font-fay:GraphikBold,GraphikBold-fallback,Helveti,Arial,Sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;letter-spacg:0.03rem;paddg-right:0.3125rem;text-transform:upperse;}@media(max-width: 48rem){{font-size:0.71434rem;le-height:1.2;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{font-size:0.72308rem;le-height:1.2;}}</style><addrs class="css-l61bhe ehvvd9m2"><style data-emotn="css 1rxc7sd">{lor:#6F6F6F;display:le;font-fay:GraphikBold,GraphikBold-fallback,Helveti,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacg:0.03rem;paddg-right:0.3125rem;text-transform:upperse;}@media(max-width: 48rem){{font-size:0.71434rem;le-height:1.2;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{font-size:0.72308rem;le-height:1.2;}}</style><span class="css-1rxc7sd ehvvd9m1">By <style data-emotn="css 1nlla76">{-webk-text-ratn:unrle;text-ratn:unrle;text-ratn-thickns:0.0625rem;text-ratn-lor:her;text-unrle-offset:0.25rem;lor:her;-webk-transn:all 0.3s ease--out;transn:all 0.3s ease--out;}{lor:#d2232e;text-ratn-lor:borr-lk-body-hover;}</style><a href="/thor/222996/zachary-zane/" class="css-1nlla76 e1c1bym14">Zachary Zane</a></span><style data-emotn="css w0ebia">{display:le-block;text-transform:upperse;marg-left:0.625rem;}</style><time class="css-w0ebia exadjwu6">Published: Mar 29, 2021</time></addrs></div><style data-emotn="css wkpw2c">{display:-webk-box;display:-webk-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webk-flex-directn:lumn;-ms-flex-directn:lumn;flex-directn:lumn;-webk-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webk-jtify-ntent:center;jtify-ntent:center;-webk-align-ems:center;-webk-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-ems:center;}</style><div class="no-prt css-wkpw2c exadjwu15"><style data-emotn="css 1hpjtwr">{display:-webk-box;display:-webk-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;posn:relative;marg-top:0.9375rem;}</style><div class="ntent-hear-actns css-1hpjtwr exadjwu14"><style data-emotn="css 1ws6gao">{-webk-align-ems:center;-webk-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-ems:center;background-lor:#d2232e;borr:th solid #d2232e;borr-radi:0;lor:#ffffff;display:-webk-box;display:-webk-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webk-flex-directn:row;-ms-flex-directn:row;flex-directn:row;font-fay:GraphikBold,GraphikBold-fallback,Helveti,Arial,Sans-serif;-webk-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webk-jtify-ntent:center;jtify-ntent:center;marg-bottom:0rem;marg-top:0rem;paddg:0.625rem;-webk-text-ratn:none;text-ratn:none;text-transform:upperse;-webk-transn:all 0.3s ease--out;transn:all 0.3s ease--out;width:to;}@media(max-width: 48rem){{font-size:0.9375rem;le-height:1.3;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{font-size:0.875rem;le-height:1.3;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{font-size:0.9375rem;le-height:1.3;}}{marg-left:1rem;}{outle:0.125rem dotted #000000;outle-offset:0.2rem;}{background-lor:#ffffff;lor:#d2232e;cursor:poter;borr:th solid #595959;} svg{fill:#d2232e;} svg>path{fill:#d2232e;} svg>path{fill:#ffffff;}</style><button data-tooltip-id="article-hear-save" class="ntentSaveButton css-1ws6gao e12nq69g1"><style data-emotn="css 1hnn6">{width:1rem;height:1rem;marg-right:0.625rem;} path{fill:#ffffff;} path{fill:#d2232e;-webk-transn:all 0.3s ease--out 0s;transn:all 0.3s ease--out 0s;}</style><svg xmlns=" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 48 62" class="css-1hnn6 e10k4xbi2"><path fill="#000" fill-le="evenodd" d="M24 46.52 48 61V0H0v61.44l24-14.92ZM5.67 50.9 24 39.5l18.33 11.4V5.7H5.67v45.2Z" clip-le="evenodd"></path></svg>Save Article</button><style data-emotn="css 1w6cje5">{width:160px;text-align:left;lor:#595959;font-fay:Inter,Helveti,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:0.70284rem;le-height:1.1;font-weight:normal;letter-spacg:0.045rem;text-transform:none;}</style></div></div></div></div></hear><style data-emotn="css 149neno">{marg-left:to;marg-right:to;marg-bottom:0.9375rem;max-width:m(lc(20.625rem * 2 - 1rem), lc(100vw - 1rem * 2));} .e152u5os0{marg-left:lc((100vw - m(lc(20.625rem * 2 - 1rem), lc(100vw - 1rem * 2)))/-2);width:100vw;}@media(m-width: 48rem) and (max-width: 61.25rem){ .e152u5os0{marg-left:lc(lc((100vw - m(lc(20.625rem * 2 - 1rem), lc(100vw - 1rem * 2)))/-2) - 3.5rem);}}@media(m-width: 90rem){ .e152u5os0{paddg-left:0.1rem;paddg-right:0.1rem;marg-left:lc(lc((100vw - m(lc(20.625rem * 2 - 1rem), lc(100vw - 1rem * 2)))/-2));}}</style><div class="longform-ntaer ntent-ntaer article-ntaer css-149neno ewisyje2"><style data-emotn="css z6i669">{font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-size:1.1875rem;le-height:1.6;paddg-left:0rem;paddg-right:0rem;posn:relative;}@media(m-width: 48rem){{paddg-left:3.5rem;paddg-right:3.5rem;}}@media(m-width: 48rem) and (max-width: 61.25rem){{max-width:45.25rem;marg-left:to;marg-right:to;}}@media(m-width: 61.25rem){{paddg-left:0rem;paddg-right:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 73.75rem) and (max-width: 100rem){{paddg-left:0rem;paddg-right:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 90rem){{paddg-left:0rem;paddg-right:0rem;}} em{font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-style:alic;} strong{font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-weight:bold;}{clear:both;ntent:" ";display:block;font-size:0.7rem;le-height:1.5rem;height:0rem;visibily:hidn;}</style><div class="article-body-ntent article-body longform-body css-z6i669 ewisyje7"><style data-emotn="css 18vfmjb">{font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-size:1.1875rem;le-height:1.6;} em{font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-style:alic;} strong{font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-weight:bold;}</style><p data-no-id="0" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0"><strong>AMERICAN HOSPITALS ARE</strong> flood wh sick patients, and not everyone there is battlg Covid-19. Many people need blood transfns— fact, the <style data-emotn="css 38knzi">{-webk-text-ratn:unrle;text-ratn:unrle;text-ratn-thickns:0.125rem;text-ratn-lor:#d2232e;text-unrle-offset:0.25rem;lor:her;-webk-transn:all 0.3s ease--out;transn:all 0.3s ease--out;}{lor:#000;text-ratn-lor:borr-lk-body-hover;background-lor:#F3B032;-webk-transn:all 0.3s ease--out;transn:all 0.3s ease--out;}</style><a href=" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="Amerin Red Cross" class="body-lk css-38knzi et3p2gv0">Amerin Red Cross</a><u> timat that </u>someone the U.S. requir a blood donatn every two sends. The untry’s blood supply is also nng dangeroly low: <a href=" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="About 30 percent of centers across the natn" class="body-lk css-38knzi et3p2gv0">About 30 percent of centers across the natn</a> have a supply that uld n out one day or ls and mt be refully managed. And more than half of all centers have ls than a three-day stockpile for tim of crisis. </p><p data-no-id="1" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">That’s bee the panmic <u>forced the ncellatn of blood driv</u>—three tim as many were nceled 2020 pared wh the year before, acrdg to the Red Cross. Collectns at high schools and lleg dropped by 50 percent over that same perd. If we don’t get more blood donors fast, we’re not gog to be able to treat people wh ser burns, those havg heart surgeri and an transplants, and those battlg ncer. </p><p data-no-id="2" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">But there is one easily implementable solutn to the natnal blood-supply shortage that’s been available for years and uld be a lifele: allowg gay and bisexual men to donate eely. Right now the U.S., gay and bisexual men (often referred to as MSM, or “men who have sex wh men”) are not allowed to give blood if they’ve had sex wh another man the past three months. The same is te for women who’ve had sex wh MSM.</p><style data-emotn="css 9417ib">{--data-embed-display:flex;-webk-align-ems:center;-webk-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-ems:center;display:-webk-box;display:-webk-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;marg-bottom:0.9375rem;}@media(m-width: 20rem){{clear:both;marg-left:to;marg-right:to;width:100%;}}@media(m-width: 30rem){{clear:both;marg-left:to;marg-right:to;width:100%;}}@media(m-width: 40.625rem){{width:50%;marg-left:1rem;marg-right:0rem;float:right;clear:right;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{width:50%;marg-left:1rem;marg-right:0rem;float:right;clear:right;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{width:50%;marg-left:1rem;marg-right:0rem;float:right;clear:right;}}@media(m-width: 73.75rem){{width:45%;marg-left:1rem;marg-right:lc(-30% - 1rem);float:right;clear:right;}}@media(m-width: 75rem){{width:45%;marg-left:1rem;marg-right:lc(-30% - 1rem);float:right;clear:right;}}@media(m-width: 90rem){{width:45%;marg-left:1rem;marg-right:lc(-30% - 1rem);float:right;clear:right;}} a span{right:1rem;} img{width:to;height:85vh;} a{display:-webk-le-box;display:-webk-le-flex;display:-ms-le-flexbox;display:le-flex;posn:var(--posn, relative);} img:not(.ewcw41w1){display:block;width:100%;height:to;-webk-align-self:flex-start;-ms-flex-em-align:flex-start;align-self:flex-start;}</style><div size="medium" data-embed="body-image" data-no-id="3" class="align-right size-medium embed css-9417ib e1xqj1sx4"><style data-emotn="css uwraif">{width:100%;display:-webk-le-box;display:-webk-le-flex;display:-ms-le-flexbox;display:le-flex;-webk-flex-directn:lumn;-ms-flex-directn:lumn;flex-directn:lumn;marg-left:to;marg-right:to;-webk-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webk-jtify-ntent:center;jtify-ntent:center;}</style><div class="css-uwraif e1xqj1sx3"><img alt="men's health mvp sign up" tle="men's health mvp sign up" loadg="lazy" width="320" height="100" dg="async" data-nimg="1" style="lor: transparent; width: 100%; height: to;" siz="100vw" srcSet=" 640w, 980w, 1120w, 1200w, 1920w" src="" class="css-0 exi4f7p0" /><style data-emotn="css 78jldq">{paddg-left:0rem;}</style><div class="css-78jldq e1xqj1sx2"><style data-emotn="css fwfucd">{width:0;m-width:100%;paddg-top:0.625rem;font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-size:1rem;le-height:1.4;} em, i{font-fay:her;font-style:alic;} em{font-fay:CharterItalic,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-style:alic;}</style><div class="css-fwfucd e1xqj1sx1"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" class="css-38knzi et3p2gv0">Click here</a> to jo for more exclive health and fns ntent.</div><style data-emotn="css 1am3yn9">{paddg-left:0rem;le-height:1;}</style><figptn class="css-1am3yn9 enfs9c50"><style data-emotn="css 11z3u4d">{lor:#6F6F6F;font-fay:GraphikBold,GraphikBold-fallback,Helveti,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacg:0.03rem;paddg-right:0.3125rem;text-transform:upperse;}@media(max-width: 48rem){{font-size:0.71434rem;le-height:1.2;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{font-size:0.72308rem;le-height:1.2;}}</style><span class="css-11z3u4d e6iqd2">.</span></figptn></div></div></div><p data-no-id="4" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">Allowg MSM equal accs to donate uld crease the total annual blood supply by 2 to 4 percent, addg anywhere om 345,400 to 615,300 pts of blood each year, the <u>Williams Instute at UCLA reported 2014.</u> Rearchers timated would help save the liv of more than a ln people, and experts agree this wouldn’t be puttg anyone at addnal risk of HIV—a fear that many scientists say needs to be put to rt. Ayako Miyasha Ochoa, lead thor of the 2014 report, remas flummoxed as to why, seven years after potg out the obv benef, the change hasn’t happened. “It is my opn that we ntue to have a real problem wh laws and regulatns based on fear rather than science,” she says.</p><p data-no-id="5" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">The ntuatn of a MSM-specific barrier to givg is not only limg the blood supply, ’s unnecsary and “rooted homophobia,” explas <a href=" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="Perry N. Halkis" class="body-lk css-38knzi et3p2gv0">Perry N. Halkis</a>, Ph.D., M.P.H., an of the School of Public Health at Rutgers Universy. So far, the FDA has been reluctant to overhl s policy, but as the need for h blood be ever more urgent, health and social-jtice advot are pumpg new energy to the fight. </p><style data-emotn="css f1dz33">{--data-embed-display:flex;-webk-align-ems:center;-webk-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-ems:center;clear:both;display:-webk-box;display:-webk-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;marg-bottom:0.9375rem;marg-left:to;marg-right:to;width:100%;}@media(m-width: 20rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 30rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 40.625rem){{width:50%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{width:50%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{width:50%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 73.75rem){{width:50%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 75rem){{width:50%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 90rem){{width:50%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}} a span{right:1rem;} img{width:to;height:85vh;} a{display:-webk-le-box;display:-webk-le-flex;display:-ms-le-flexbox;display:le-flex;posn:var(--posn, relative);} img:not(.ewcw41w1){display:block;width:100%;height:to;-webk-align-self:flex-start;-ms-flex-em-align:flex-start;align-self:flex-start;}</style><div size="small" data-embed="body-image" data-no-id="6" class="align-center size-small embed css-f1dz33 e1xqj1sx4"><div class="css-uwraif e1xqj1sx3"><img alt="why the ban exists" tle="why the ban exists" loadg="lazy" width="1920" height="597" dg="async" data-nimg="1" style="lor: transparent; width: 100%; height: to;" siz="100vw" srcSet=" 640w, 980w, 1120w, 1200w, 1920w" src="" class="css-0 exi4f7p0" /><style data-emotn="css swqnqv">@media(m-width: 20rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 30rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 40.625rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 73.75rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 75rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}@media(m-width: 90rem){{paddg-left:0rem;}}</style><div class="css-swqnqv e1xqj1sx2"><figptn class="css-1am3yn9 enfs9c50"><span class="css-11z3u4d e6iqd2">.</span></figptn></div></div></div><p data-no-id="7" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0"><strong>BLOOD-DONATION DISCRIMINATION </strong>agast MSM started <a href=" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="1983" class="body-lk css-38knzi et3p2gv0">1983</a> at the height of the AIDS epimic, when the FDA stuted a lifetime ban on any man who’d had sex wh another man sce 1977. “You uld potentially unrstand why this ban me to place nearly four s ago,” says <a href=" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="Marguera Lightfoot" class="body-lk css-38knzi et3p2gv0">Marguera Lightfoot</a>, Ph.D., director of the Center for AIDS Preventn Studi. </p><style data-emotn="css 1mtk2uq">{--data-embed-display:flex;-webk-align-ems:center;-webk-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-ems:center;display:-webk-box;display:-webk-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;marg-bottom:0.9375rem;}@media(m-width: 20rem){{clear:both;marg-left:to;marg-right:to;width:100%;}}@media(m-width: 30rem){{clear:both;marg-left:to;marg-right:to;width:100%;}}@media(m-width: 40.625rem){{width:70%;marg-left:1rem;marg-right:0rem;float:right;clear:right;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{width:70%;marg-left:1rem;marg-right:0rem;float:right;clear:right;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{width:60%;marg-left:1rem;marg-right:0rem;float:right;clear:right;}}@media(m-width: 73.75rem){{width:60%;marg-left:1rem;marg-right:lc(-30% - 1rem);float:right;clear:right;}}@media(m-width: 75rem){{width:60%;marg-left:1rem;marg-right:lc(-30% - 1rem);float:right;clear:right;}}@media(m-width: 90rem){{width:60%;marg-left:1rem;marg-right:lc(-30% - 1rem);float:right;clear:right;}} a span{right:1rem;} img{width:to;height:85vh;} a{display:-webk-le-box;display:-webk-le-flex;display:-ms-le-flexbox;display:le-flex;posn:var(--posn, relative);} img:not(.ewcw41w1){display:block;width:100%;height:to;-webk-align-self:flex-start;-ms-flex-em-align:flex-start;align-self:flex-start;}</style><div size="large" data-embed="body-image" data-no-id="8" class="align-right size-large embed css-1mtk2uq e1xqj1sx4"><div class="css-uwraif e1xqj1sx3"><img alt="we ntue to have a real problem wh laws and regulatns based on fear rather than science" tle="we ntue to have a real problem wh laws and regulatns based on fear rather than science" loadg="lazy" width="2058" height="2793" dg="async" data-nimg="1" style="lor: transparent; width: 100%; height: to;" siz="100vw" srcSet=" 640w, 980w, 1120w, 1200w, 1920w" src="" class="css-0 exi4f7p0" /><div class="css-78jldq e1xqj1sx2"><figptn class="css-1am3yn9 enfs9c50"><span class="css-11z3u4d e6iqd2">.</span></figptn></div></div></div><p data-no-id="9" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">At the time, doctors were only begng to exame how exactly HIV was transmted and whom uld affect. “We were still tryg to figure out the transmissn of the vis, and all we knew was that this populatn was disproportnately impacted,” Lightfoot says. Now ’s clear that HIV transmissn isn’t about whether you have sex wh men; ’s about whether you have safe sex, no matter who you are. </p><p data-no-id="10" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">For years, LGBTQ activist groups have enuraged the FDA to remove s rtrictn, notg that the ban isn’t rooted science and perpetuat stigma. Medil experts like Lightfoot agree. “It don’t make sense to have a blanket class of people who n’t donate blood,” she says. “People should be screened for risky sexual behavr, such as not wearg ndoms when havg sex, as opposed to sexual orientatn.”</p><p data-no-id="11" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">In 2015, the<a href=" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="FDA loosened s rtrictn" class="body-lk css-38knzi et3p2gv0">FDA loosened s rtrictn</a>, permtg gay and bisexual men to donate blood as long as they hadn’t had sex wh another man the past year. That wasn’t much of a victory, acrdg to LGBTQ activist anizatn<a href=" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="GLAAD" class="body-lk css-38knzi et3p2gv0">GLAAD</a>, which quickly untered wh a bg vio starrg actor <a href=" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="Alan Cummg" class="body-lk css-38knzi et3p2gv0">Alan Cummg</a> as the head of a fict ernment agency charge of enuragg abstence. (“That’s right—365 days of celibacy!” Cummg exclaimed wh mock excement before sharg a list of hobbi that quickly turned sexually suggtive.) </p><style data-emotn="css gv3b6u">{--data-embed-display:flex;-webk-align-ems:center;-webk-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-ems:center;display:-webk-box;display:-webk-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;marg-bottom:0.9375rem;}@media(m-width: 20rem){{clear:both;marg-left:to;marg-right:to;width:100%;}}@media(m-width: 30rem){{clear:both;marg-left:to;marg-right:to;width:100%;}}@media(m-width: 40.625rem){{width:70%;marg-right:1rem;marg-left:0rem;float:left;clear:left;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{width:70%;marg-right:1rem;marg-left:0rem;float:left;clear:left;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{width:60%;marg-right:1rem;marg-left:0rem;float:left;clear:left;}}@media(m-width: 73.75rem){{width:60%;marg-right:1rem;marg-left:lc(-30% - 1rem);float:left;clear:left;}}@media(m-width: 75rem){{width:60%;marg-right:1rem;marg-left:lc(-30% - 1rem);float:left;clear:left;}}@media(m-width: 90rem){{width:60%;marg-right:1rem;marg-left:lc(-30% - 1rem);float:left;clear:left;}} a span{right:1rem;} img{width:to;height:85vh;} a{display:-webk-le-box;display:-webk-le-flex;display:-ms-le-flexbox;display:le-flex;posn:var(--posn, relative);} img:not(.ewcw41w1){display:block;width:100%;height:to;-webk-align-self:flex-start;-ms-flex-em-align:flex-start;align-self:flex-start;}</style><div size="large" data-embed="body-image" data-no-id="12" class="align-left size-large embed css-gv3b6u e1xqj1sx4"><div class="css-uwraif e1xqj1sx3"><img alt="removg the ban would alleviate the stigma, and uld help save the liv of lns of amerins" tle="removg the ban would alleviate the stigma, and uld help save the liv of lns of amerins" loadg="lazy" width="2130" height="2853" dg="async" data-nimg="1" style="lor: transparent; width: 100%; height: to;" siz="100vw" srcSet=" 640w, 980w, 1120w, 1200w, 1920w" src="" class="css-0 exi4f7p0" /><div class="css-78jldq e1xqj1sx2"><figptn class="css-1am3yn9 enfs9c50"><span class="css-11z3u4d e6iqd2">.</span></figptn></div></div></div><p data-no-id="13" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">GLAAD then created a petn enuragg the FDA to screen donors based on their exposure to risk and not on sexual orientatn. But took a natnal emergency for thgs to fally shift a b. InApril 2020, as blood donatns plummeted due to the panmic, the FDA updated s rtrictn to a three-month abstence perd before donatg. </p><p data-no-id="14" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">Activist anizatns cludg GLAAD say three months is still discrimatn, and they’ve kept phg the FDA to lift the ban entirely. “The time ferrals are based discrimatn and stigma, not science,” says Mathew Lasky, GLAAD’s director of munitns. “We’re ntug to put prsure on the FDA and are workg wh celebri and elected officials to get the word out.”</p><p data-no-id="15" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">In mid-April, the group shared an open letter, signed by 500 medil profsnals, that stat that the FDA revisn is “a step the right directn, [but] do not go far enough reversg the unscientific ban.” </p><p data-no-id="16" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">An FDA spokperson told <em>Men’s Health</em> an email that the agency is now reexamg this issue, cludg “takg to acunt the current body of scientific rmatn, and we are nsirg the possibily of pursug alternative strategi that mata blood safety.”</p><div size="small" data-embed="body-image" data-no-id="17" class="align-center size-small embed css-f1dz33 e1xqj1sx4"><div class="css-uwraif e1xqj1sx3"><img alt="why the blood supply would rema safe" tle="why the blood supply would rema safe" loadg="lazy" width="1920" height="846" dg="async" data-nimg="1" style="lor: transparent; width: 100%; height: to;" siz="100vw" srcSet=" 640w, 980w, 1120w, 1200w, 1920w" src="" class="css-0 exi4f7p0" /><div class="css-swqnqv e1xqj1sx2"><figptn class="css-1am3yn9 enfs9c50"><span class="css-11z3u4d e6iqd2">.</span></figptn></div></div></div><p data-no-id="18" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0"><strong>PART OF WHAT MAKES</strong> the current ban so archaic is that when was stated, the U.S. didn’t have the sensive tectn methods for HIV donated blood. Now we do. <a href=" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="Every blood donatn is tted" class="body-lk css-38knzi et3p2gv0">Every blood donatn is tted</a> for HIV two different ways (through antibody analysis and NAT, a molecular technique for blood screeng). As a rult, the rate of accintally acquirg HIV through a blood transfn is extremely low—<a href=" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="roughly one 1.5 ln" class="body-lk css-38knzi et3p2gv0">roughly one 1.5 ln</a>.</p><p data-no-id="19" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">There are current tts, specifilly RNA tts, that n tect HIV wh 11 days of exposure. So if the FDA wanted to keep a time-ferral ban, uld utilize the tts and shorten the eligibily rtrictn to men who haven’t had sex wh another man the past 11 days. There is no reason to keep at three months, Halkis says.</p><p data-no-id="20" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">Regardls, people who don’t engage behavrs associated wh high risk of HIV exposure shouldn’t need to wa at all to give. For example, if you’re a gay man who wears ndoms durg sex, you lim your risk of ntractg HIV. Same go for gay men who are married or a long-term monogamo relatnship. Addnally, takg PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) daily n crease the likelihood of acquirg HIV through sexual ntact by 99 percent.</p><style data-emotn="css 10ks0yw">{marg-left:to;marg-right:to;width:100%;}@media(m-width: 20rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 30rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 40.625rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 48rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 64rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 73.75rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 75rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}@media(m-width: 90rem){{width:100%;marg:0 to 0.9375rem;}}</style><div data-embed="loop" data-no-id="21" class="css-10ks0yw e1a0jkxd0"><style data-emotn="css 8atqhb">{width:100%;}</style><style data-emotn="css 1e3dj7m">{display:-webk-box;display:-webk-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webk-flex-directn:row-reverse;-ms-flex-directn:row-reverse;flex-directn:row-reverse;-webk-align-ems:flex-end;-webk-box-align:flex-end;-ms-flex-align:flex-end;align-ems:flex-end;posn:relative;width:100%;marg-bottom:0.9375rem;width:100%;} {visibily:hidn;opacy:0;-webk-transn:visibily 0s .3s,opacy .3s lear;transn:visibily 0s .3s,opacy .3s lear;}</style><div class="align-center size-medium embed e1a0jkxd1 css-1e3dj7m ejku7p04"><div class="__rp-ntaer css-5mi43p e6l0f0"><img src=" alt="Image no longer available" tle="Image no longer available" width="100%" height="to" dg="async" fetchPrry="high" /></div></div><style data-emotn="css 1qqodx7">{marg-bottom:0.9375rem;word-break:break-word;paddg:0rem;font-fay:Charter,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-size:1rem;le-height:1.4;} em, i{font-fay:her;font-style:alic;} em{font-fay:CharterItalic,Geia,Tim,Serif;font-style:alic;}</style><div size="medium" class="css-1qqodx7 e1a0jkxd2">Takg PrEP n crease the likelihood of acquirg HIV by 99%. But ers still n’t donate blood immediately.' </div></div><p data-no-id="22" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">In late December, the FDA announced is fundg a pilot study that may prove there’s a more logil way to move forward. Conducted tanm wh the natn’s largt blood centers—the Amerin Red Cross, Valant, and OneBlood—the rearch effort will survey 2,000 gay and bisexual men across the untry between the ag of 18 and 30 who have had sex wh at least one man the past three months. Men will answer qutns about their sexual risk. Then their blood will be drawn and tted for HIV as well as anti-retroviral dgs found PrEP. </p><p data-no-id="23" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">Rults om this study are expected late 2021. But if the sexual-risk disclosur n vet ndidat as well as or better than the time-based ban, the FDA may e that rmatn to potentially change s donatn procr for MSM. “The FDA remas mted to nsirg alternativ to time-based ferral by generatg the scientific evince that is tend to support an dividual-risk-asssment-based blood-donor qutnnaire,” the agency nfirmed via email. </p><div size="large" data-embed="body-image" data-no-id="24" class="align-right size-large embed css-1mtk2uq e1xqj1sx4"><div class="css-uwraif e1xqj1sx3"><img alt="untri that have moved away om discrimatory time ferral bans have not seen an crease hiv posive blood" tle="untri that have moved away om discrimatory time ferral bans have not seen an crease hiv posive blood" loadg="lazy" width="2166" height="3045" dg="async" data-nimg="1" style="lor: transparent; width: 100%; height: to;" siz="100vw" srcSet=" 640w, 980w, 1120w, 1200w, 1920w" src="" class="css-0 exi4f7p0" /><div class="css-78jldq e1xqj1sx2"><figptn class="css-1am3yn9 enfs9c50"><span class="css-11z3u4d e6iqd2">.</span></figptn></div></div></div><p data-no-id="25" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">The FDA has not said when that policy change might take effect. The earlit might happen would be 2022, says Lightfoot. It might also take longer if the agency cis that addnal nfirmatnal studi are need. But there’s already plenty of precent that this ncept n work: If the ban were to be lifted, the Uned Stat would jo the ranks of untri cludg Italy, Brazil, the UK, Mexi, and Israel, all of whom have adopted a risk-based qutnnaire to screen blood donors stead of lg out all men who’ve had sex wh other men a set perd. </p><p data-no-id="26" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">“The untri that have moved away om blanket, discrimatory time-ferral bans have not seen an crease [HIV-posive] blood,” Lasky says. “We already know that the three-month discrimatory ban do not align wh science, so why are we dog this study aga?”</p><p data-no-id="27" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">The policy change uld have a signifint posive effect on the mental health of gay and bisexual men, too. While CDC data shows that straight men and women make up roughly 24 percent of new HIV s, Halkis says the MSM-specific ban creat “others” out of those exclud. “It mak them feel ls than,” he says. This sort of tegoril humanizatn n<a href=" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="lead to a slew of negative mental-health out" class="body-lk css-38knzi et3p2gv0">lead to a slew of negative mental-health out</a>, cludg prsn, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and tennci. It also puts gay and bisexual men at higher risk for acquirg HIV over time. </p><p data-no-id="28" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">“Social and stctural factors that e gay men to feel othered e them to engage risky sexual behavr,” Halkis says. So a ban like this isn’t jt harmful to the Amerin public; “’s credibly harmful to the gay muny, both emotnally and physilly.”</p><p data-no-id="29" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">Removg the ban would alleviate that stigma and create a new rource that uld help save the liv of lns of Amerins. To make that happen faster, Halkis remends makg your voice heard, no matter your sexual orientatn. “Like wh all social-jtice matters, is imperative that that alli of the LGBTQ+ populatns work to voice their ncerns about the ongog blood ban,” he says. </p><p data-no-id="30" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">The first step is to sign GLAAD’s petn at <a href=" data-vars-ga-outbound-lk=" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlk" data-vars-ga-ll-to-actn="" class="body-lk css-38knzi et3p2gv0"></a>. You then n—and should—te those around you, “sce many people, cludg gay and bi men, don’t know that this ban exists,” adds Lasky. Lastly, “engage wh Congrs. Let them know you don’t support discrimatory practic that ban gay and bisexual men om dog their civic duty.”</p><p data-no-id="31" class="css-18vfmjb et3p2gv0">Givg everyone an equal chance to help one another shouldn’t be a difficult cisn—pecially when uny and healg remas a val need. </p><style data-emotn="css 2ok9l4">{marg-top:1.875rem;borr-top:th solid #595959;}</style><div data-jam-id="thor-b" class="css-2ok9l4 e13rjwo40"></div><style data-emotn="css ciejky">{clear:both;marg-top:1.25rem;}</style><div id="journey-le" class="css-ciejky e1cslvxz0"></div><style data-emotn="css 79elbk">{posn:relative;}</style><div class="css-79elbk eg8z2o90"><div class="css-79elbk e1tp40ll1"><div data-anchor-id="P0-0" class="css-0 e1tp40ll0"></div></div><style data-emotn="css hi6ssp">{display:block;grid-area:article_body;grid-lumn:article_body-start/article_body-end;grid-row:to;jtify-self:center;marg:1.25rem 0 0;}@media prt{{display:none;}}@media(max-width: 30rem){{width:100%;}}@media(max-width: 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