![can gay men donate blood in us can gay men donate blood in us](https://s31242.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/blood-donation.jpg)
“In light of the urgent crisis facing America’s blood supply, we urge FDA to take immediate action to reassess the existing three-month blanket deferral period for gay and bisexual men so that every person who can safely donate blood in the United States has the opportunity to do so.” “The three-month deferral period continues to prevent gay and bisexual men from safely donating blood,” wrote the members. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Carolyn Maloney joined a group of colleagues from across the country to urge the Food and Drug Administration to reevaluate blood donation policy that prevents gay and bisexual men from participating. 11 announcement of the American Red Cross’ first-ever national blood crisis amid the surge of the Omicron variant, Queens congressmembers are calling for blood donation policies to catch up with 2022 and ensure all willing donors are able. They say they have not heard back from the FDA at this time.In the wake of the historic Jan. Spectrum News 1 reached out to Kinsley’s office for an update. Kinsley wants the United States to catch up to the times. Meanwhile, other countries such as Spain, Italy, England and Israel have led the way and updated their blood donation policies. Now, he says, he can tell other people in the community that if they ever hop on PrEP, they won’t be able to donate blood at the same time. “And it’s part of my job as an advocate for prevention in HIV treatment to promote the health of others.”Ĭoney says today was a learning experience for him. “I’m not willing to take that risk to not take PrEP because I don’t know I like keeping myself protected from HIV,” Coney said. Coney says he wants to give back, but at what cost? The phlebotomist tells him he needs to wait three months for PrEP to work its way out of his system before he can donate. It just seems to be the fact that I’m a gay man who may be sexually active.” “But PrEP is the main thing that stopped me from donating blood. “My chances of giving HIV to someone through blood donation is pretty much not there because I’m on PrEP,” Coney said. The FDA requires that all blood donations undergo nucleic acid testing for HIV before they’re entered into donation pools. “Because we want people to have protection against HIV, whether you’re in the LGBT community or out of the LGBT community because HIV affects everyone.”Ĭoney is an advocate with the NC AIDS Action Network, a nonprofit organization that promotes public health changes. “I think what surprised me about that is that a big part of my job is actually trying to get people on PrEP, promoting PrEP,” Coney said. He doesn’t meet the eligibility requirements because he takes a daily medication to prevent getting HIV called PrEP. When he emerges, he discovers he won’t be able to give blood on this day. As a gay man, he had to wait 90 days from his last sexual encounter to give blood at the Blood Connection.Īfter checking in, he enters a private room for a health screening and health questionnaire, which is guided by the FDA. The last time was when he was a junior in high school.
![can gay men donate blood in us can gay men donate blood in us](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/0B9B/production/_118917920_p09lg3h6.jpg)
He says the blood supply is so much safer than when the policy was put into place because of incredible advancements in testing.ĭe’Shea Coney, 27, hasn’t donated blood in 10 years. He wants to see an end to the 90-day deferral policy, which he says is discriminatory toward an entire group of people. Kinsley and health officials from eight states wrote to the FDA, saying that the current law is outdated and unnecessary. Advocate De’Shea Coney was unable to donate blood because he takes a daily medication to prevent getting HIV called PrEP.A gay man has to wait 90 days from his last sexual encounter to give blood, which Kinsley says is an outdated, unnecessary and discriminatory policy.
![can gay men donate blood in us can gay men donate blood in us](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2017/01/12/opinion/12franzone/12franzone-videoSixteenByNineJumbo1600.jpg)