The recent surge in COVID cases has fueled the worst blood shortage in more than a decade, and yet multiple members of LGBTQ+ communities are still barred from donating blood.
One LGBTQ+ advocate, Jay Franzone, remained abstinent for a year just so he could donate blood in January 2017. Since Franzone's experience, the restrictions have barely changed to only allow those who have abstained from same-sex sexual activity for 90 days to donate. Franzone said "they can change the policy — even temporarily — and they can do so today."
Add your name to call for an end to the discriminatory policy that prevents gay and bisexual men, as well as others in the LGBTQ+ community, from giving blood!
Any policy that singles out the LGBTQ community is flat-out discriminatory. On top of that, this one in particular poses an unnecessary obstacle to ending the blood shortage. Safety technology and blood screening have advanced well past the science of time-based restrictions– now, the only thing that is standing in the way of change is pure bigotry.
Everyone capable and willing should be able to donate blood, especially during a blood shortage.
Sign now to demand the FDA scrap the policy preventing LGBTQ+ people from donating blood!
*Image Credit for Thumbnail: Caleb Preston/The Paisano
