The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prohibited males who have had sex with another male since 1977 from donating blood for over 25 years. The policy was a direct consequence of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. HIV/AIDS affects homosexuals and heterosexuals, but only homosexuals are targeted by this discriminatory policy. The Center for Disease Control reported 9,732 diagnosed HIV cases in heterosexuals in 2011. The disease does not discriminate based on sexuality. Modern blood donation testing has also virtually eliminated the risk of spreading disease.
We petition the Obama Administration to repeal this discriminatory policy. The FDA is an executive branch agency. Our nation cannot afford the loss of so many blood donors when over 44,000 units a day are needed.