FDA Now Accepting Blood From Gay and Bisexual Men as Long as They Haven’t Had Sex in 12 Months
The Food and Drug Administration has historically banned accepting blood donations from men who have sex with other men in order to “reduce the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission by blood and blood products.” Yeah, I know. Today they announced, however, that–lo and behold–they’re now accepting blood donations from these men… as long as they haven’t had sex in 12 months.
Are you freakin’ kidding me?
The organization that’s responsible for our health and safety are apparently still so stuck in the past that they think this is a good announcement. That’s totally reassuring.
It was bad enough that this ban existed in the first place–demonstrating a lack of understanding that HIV knows no bounds, not to mention some pretty intense ignorance–but to suggest abstinence as the only way to donate potentially life-saving blood? Okay.
Dr. Peter Marks, deputy director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said that they looked into different methods of monitoring blood donations, including individual testing. But according to their data, the 12 month “deferral” is the best method. In a press release, Marks said:
Ultimately, the 12-month deferral window is supported by the best available scientific evidence, at this point in time, relevant to the U.S. population. We will continue to actively conduct research in this area and further revise our policies as new data emerge.
It’s probably important to note that the U.S. isn’t the only country to impose a similar 12 month deferral window. Policies to the same effect are in place in the U.K. and Australia.
I’ll acknowledge the fact that the CDC has stated that HIV disproportionately affects gay and bisexual men, but that’s not my point.
My point is that the ban is based on people’s sexual orientations, not necessarily their behavior. That is where the ignorance and stereotypical bias exists. The fact that they can’t–or won’t–differentiate between sexual orientation and risky behavior is exactly what’s so frustrating about this. It’s a ban focused on the wrong aspects of a person’s life.
This deferral–just like the ban preceding it–is effectively a sanction on a person’s sexual activity. When you boil it down, it’s a rule prohibiting them from doing something (donating blood) simply because of who they happen to enjoy sleeping with. How is that okay?
We should expect the FDA to do better, not just settle for the average among nations, right?
(image via Shutterstock/science photo)
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