The Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. is planning to lift its blood donation restrictions for gay and bisexual men after years of prohibiting them from giving blood.
According to Hollywood Unlocked, gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships can donate blood even if they haven’t abstained from sex for months. The decision comes decades after a policy discriminating against gay men was implemented during the AIDS crisis. In a report by Insider, blood banks and LBGTQ organizations fought for an equal policy within the past few years.
The official also stated that the new restrictions were implemented to keep the blood supply HIV-free by focusing on sexual behavior rather than an individual’s gender or sexual orientation. Because the final changes have not been made public, men eligible to donate blood must wait until the end of 2023.
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