MSM Blood Donor Ban Upheld

Men who have sex with men (MSM) have been banned from donating blood since 1983. Twenty seven years later, however, suffice it to say that this regulation is a relic that perpetuates stigma.

First implemented during the heights of the AIDS crisis, this regulation was reconsidered last week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability amidst new scientific evidence. However, the federal committee failed to overturn the controversial policy on Friday, June 11^th.

The American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers, as well as other respected organizations and scientists, have long advocated that this policy is medically unnecessary. The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association has deemed this exclusionary practice a case of ill-informed identity-based discrimination. While men who have sex with men are barred from donating (regardless of their risk behavior), high-risk heterosexuals can easily circumvent requirements to make donations.

Although the advisory committee claims that allowing MSM to donate blood would lead to a very small increase in risk of contamination to the blood supply, consider how every pint of blood donated is subjected to rigorous tests (sometimes up to 13 different types) that have been shown to be immensely scientifically accurate. The safety of the blood supply is of paramount importance, but it seems like a more reasonable system could be developed that takes into account an individual’s risk behavior instead of simply eliminating all gay and bi men from the donor pool.

(Written by Aastik Pokhrel. Edited by Shawn Jain.)