June, 09 2010, 05:12pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
1050 Connecticut Ave NW,Suite 65500,Washington, DC 20035,Phone: 202-393-5177
Task Force: End the Archaic FDA Blood Ban Now
WASHINGTON
At a press conference today, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
called for an end to the Food and Drug Administration's lifetime ban on
blood donations from any man who has had sex with another man since
1977.
At its June 10-11 meeting, the Health and Human Services Advisory
Committee on Blood Safety and Availability will review the FDA's
decades-long ban. It is estimated that 219,000 more pints of blood could
be available annually if the blanket ban is lifted.
The Task Force and nearly 50 other groups have signed a joint
letter to the Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability
saying "it is our opinion that this lifetime deferral for men who have
sex with men (MSM) from donating blood is outdated and discriminatory
and we strongly urge the Advisory Committee to recommend a revision of
this policy."
Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
"The lifting of the lifetime ban on blood donations from all men who
have sex with men will remove a federally sanctioned stigma and send a
strong, clear message that this systemic, blatant and blanket
discrimination will not be tolerated. The most critical issue is to
ensure that the blood supply is safe and abundant, and this means
maximizing the potential donor pool and making sure all donors are
screened appropriately and assessed based on actual behavioral risk
independent of their sexual orientation. It is long past time to end
this archaic, knee-jerk practice and replace it with a fair, humane and
sensible blood donor policy. Lives will be saved when this ban ends."
Download
the Task Force's full comments from today's press conference
The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people. We are building a future where everyone can be free to be their entire selves in every aspect of their lives. Today, despite all the progress we've made to end discrimination, millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives: in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights. These barriers must go. That's why the Task Force is training and mobilizing millions of activists across our nation to deliver a world where you can be you. Join us!
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