give gay men the right to donate their blood to help save the lives of others

Currently, MSM (men who have sex with other men) are unable to donate their blood in order to help others. This has been an issue since 1977, when there were no tests for diseases such as HIV. However, not only are there readily available and highly accurate tests for these diseases for which MSM were banned, but every single sample of blood donated is already tested for these diseases before being considered usable. MSM are still at a higher risk for these diseases than other groups, however, with the testing mechanisms available, it is hardly necessary for there to be a lifetime ban for MSM because of even a solitary sexual encounter. This ban is hardly scientifically or logically reasonable anymore, and steps should be taken to change these policies immediately.