The US Food & Drug Administration bans gay & bisexual men from donating blood. No matter how safe they are & no matter how good their blood might be, the FDA automatically defers it as bad. They won't even test it. The ban was put into place back in 1983 when they didn't have the HIV testing capabilities that they do now. It is outdated & as a result, countless otherwise eligible gay and bisexual men are unable to contribute to the nation's blood supply and help save lives - especially in a time when blood shortages are increasingly common. Not only that, but the ban perpetuates negative stereotypes and stigma. Whether intentional or not, it is discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation & the FDA needs to revise its policy so that it focuses on sexual behavior instead.
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