Revise blood donor ban to match modern science

[Willinois]

Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley is pushing the envelope with this editorial in the Hill. I wonder if the Christian Right will flip out.

Quote:For the first time, independent health experts agreed that the current policy banning gay and bisexual men from donating blood was “suboptimal” and warranted a change. Not only was it “suboptimal,” but the current policy could actual be making the current blood supply less safe.

According to the HHS panel, the current policy "permit[s] some potentially high risk donations while preventing some potentially low risk donations." In other words, some donors who engage in high risk behavior, such a having unsafe sex, are donating, while low risk donors, including healthy gay and bisexual men who are in monogamous relationships and practice safe sex, are banned for life.

We can no longer justify this outdated, discriminatory policy that paints all gay and bisexual men with the same brush. The LGBT community is diverse and we need a more nuanced policy that distinguishes high risk MSM from low risk MSM in order to allow perfectly healthy gay and bisexual men to donate life-saving blood.

[jaxx]

Interesting. I'll be waiting to see where this goes. You can bet the christian right will flip out, they all will.

[azmouse]

I donate blood 3 times a year. Based on the questions asked before a donation, I'm surprised there are enough people eligible to donate to maintain the blood supply in this country.
Anything that would ease the burden and safely open up donations to more people is good.