The Food and Drug Adminisration (FDA) announced today that it will recommend that the decades-old ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men be revised, according to The Associated Press. Rather than banning gay and bisexual men from donating blood altogether, the FDA has proposed allowing donations from gay and bisexual men who have been celibate for one year.
“Stereotypes should have no place in saving lives,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “While this proposed change is certainly historic, it would still mean that countless gay and bisexual men will be turned away from blood banks simply because of who they are.”
In a statement released today, the FDA says it "intends to issue a draft guidance recommending this proposed change in policy in 2015, which will also include an opportunity for public comment. We encourage all stakeholders to take this opportunity to provide any information the agency should consider, and look forward to receiving and reviewing these comments."