Israel is ending their ban on blood donation from queer men. Why isn't America?

[Behind the Aegis]

Israel is ending all restrictions in place that limit men from donating blood in any way simply because they have sex with men. Gay and bisexual men will now be held to the same standard as all other people seeking to give blood.

The policy puts Israel in the growing number of nations that are changing policies around blood or tissue donation regulations to take away past restrictions placed on gay and bisexual men. That has left people to wonder why America is behind on the issue.

Nitzan Horowitz, the out Minister of Health in Israel, proclaimed, “There’s no difference between one blood and the other. Discrimination against gays in donating blood is over.” Horowitz first promised the changes in June.

The policy goes into effect in October.

“This is a landmark moment for the entire LGBTQ community in Israel and a step closer toward equality for everyone,” American LGBTQ advocacy group A Wider Bridge wrote in a Facebook post.

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[634-5789]

1. I give here in Illinois, and as far as I know they do accept those donations.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Sounds like an exception to the rule or possibly an oversight.

[634-5789]

5. I found this..

The FDA guidance “Revised Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Blood and Blood Products” states, “Defer for 3 months from the most recent sexual contact, a man who has had sex with another man during the past 3 months.” All U.S. blood collection organizations must follow this federal requirement.

The Red Cross recognizes the hurt this policy has caused to many in the LGBTQ+ community and believes blood donation eligibility should not be determined by methods that are based upon sexual orientation. We are committed to working with partners toward achieving this goal.

We continue to assist in evaluating alternative donor eligibility criteria and the expanded use of new technologies to work toward elimination of donor eligibility questions based on sexual orientation that would no longer be necessary. However, as a regulated organization, we cannot unilaterally enact changes concerning the MSM deferral policy.

In order to gather data related to the possibility of using an individual risk assessment behavior-based health history questionnaire in the U.S., the Red Cross, along with One Blood, Vitalant and partner LGBTQ+ community health centers, are participating in a pilot study funded by the FDA in select cities that could potentially lead to changes for blood donor eligibility criteria for gay and bisexual men. The study is focused on evaluating alternatives to determining donor eligibility.

This study is a first step in providing data that will help the FDA determine if a donor history questionnaire based on individual risk would be as effective as a time-based MAM deferral in reducing the risk of HIV in the blood supply. If the study’s scientific evidence supports the use of the different eligibility questions, it could lead to further efforts to change the MSM eligibility criteria. More information about this study is available at ADVANCEStudy.org.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. We are overdue for this important change. Wake up, America! We can, and must, do better. n/t

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. They've stopped asking, and I've resumed giving.

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