Lifting Blood Donation Restrictions for Gay Men Marks Historic Milestone

Starting Monday, the Red Cross will use a more inclusive risk-based individual assessment to determine if someone is eligible to give blood, regardless of their sexual orientation. This change marks a significant milestone for the LGBTQ+ community and is considered one of the most significant changes in blood banking history. The previous FDA policy, which banned most gay men from donating blood, was rooted in stigma and did not reflect the advances in HIV screening and prevention. While the new guidance is a step forward, some critics argue that it still perpetuates stigma and excludes certain individuals who should be considered safe donors. The Red Cross hopes that the updated policy will encourage more people to donate blood and will continue to work with the FDA to gather more data and potentially eliminate further deferrals in the future.