Since 1985, the Food and Drug Administration in America has barred men who engage in sexual relations with another man from ever donating blood. This policy was a reaction to the AIDS crisis ravaging the gay community, and America at large, but thirty years on it looks antiquated at best. All donated blood is required to be tested for HIV (and more), and the country’s three largest blood banks all oppose the ban.

It appears the FDA is finally planning to remove the lifetime ban. However, their new proposal is still more than a little ridiculous. Here’s the old question from the donor survey:

From 1977 to the present, have you had sexual contact with another male, even once?

The modified question will instead be something like:

In the past 12 months, have you had sexual contact with another male, even once?

So yes, gay and bisexual men will finally be able to give blood again! They’ll just have to be celibate for an entire year first.

If you’d like to submit a comment to the FDA, you can do so right here.

---