Kerry leads push to repeal blanket ban on gay blood donors

[ProSense]

Dems Push FDA to Repeal Blanket Ban on Gay Blood Donors

By Mike Lillis

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) didn’t mince words today in calling for the repeal of the long-standing ban on gay men donating blood.

“Not a single piece of scientific evidence supports the ban,” Kerry wrote today in Bay Windows, a New England-based gay and lesbian newspaper.

A letter to the FDA — spearheaded by Kerry and signed by 20 other Senate Democrats — is more guarded, calling for the administration to review — and modify, if appropriate — the long-standing prohibition.

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Still, they also seem confident that such a review would lead to the repeal of the blanket ban that they’re clearly advocating.

The safety, availability, and integrity of our nation’s blood supply are vital. For these reasons, we agree with the American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers, AABB, and others that the time has come for the FDA to modify the lifetime deferral for (gay men) to be consistent with sensible health and safety policy and with FDA deferral guidelines for high-risk heterosexual behavior. We request that you initiate a review of the lifetime deferral requirement for men who have sex with men wishing to donate blood and that you reexamine the deferral criteria for all blood donors to ensure all high-risk behaviors are appropriately addressed.

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[onehandle]

1. Good. Ban Republicans instead.

If I ever need a transfusion, I don't want to catch a case of the stupids.

[blm]

3. lolol.

[madmax]

2. Does anyone remember

'And The Band Played On' by Randy Shilts. It was the blood banks refusal to test donated blood for HIV due to cost considerations. That is before it made it's way into the general population via hemophiliacs and others receiving tainted blood. It's always about the Benjamins.

[karynnj]

4. The Bay windows article is very interesting

It has a nice history of this ban and a lot of information on why it is not needed.