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A summary of FDAs recommendations and the rationale for the change to a three-month deferral period for men who have sex with men (MSM)” The FDA has made forward progress in this regard and has been actively engaged in reexamining the issue of blood donor deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM), taking into account the current body of scientific information, and we are considering the possibility of pursuing alternative strategies that maintain blood safety.FDA revised the recommendations for reducing the risk of HIV transmission by blood products to harmonize most behavior-based deferrals for HIV risk. Right now, the FDA bans men from donating blood. We reached out to the FDA for comment about their policy, they declined our interview request and said in a statement “Developing the scientific information that is needed to further change blood donor policies does take time and effort. The American Red Cross is asking the Food and Drug Administration to consider changing its blood donation policy for gay men. We are bound by the regulations as put forward by the FDA with regards to blood donation when it comes to the MSM policy and that is Men who have Sex with Men. Mary " The red cross believes that blood donations eligibility should not be determined by methods that are based on Sexual Orientation. Kalisto Nanen - Board Member, Pride Aroostook " When it comes to blood donations, people are unfairly and unsafely assuming that just because someone has same sex relations, more commonly men with men, that we have HIV”īrant Says that while the Red Cross doesn’t necessarily support the policy, They have to enforce it. One that has gathered recent attention from celebrities and politicians is the policy regarding LGBTQ Men. Days after the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, House members and the White House made seemingly contradictory claims concerning the Federal Drug Administration’s blood donation. Mary Brant - Communications Manager, Red Cross NNE Region " RIght now as you said, the red cross is experincing one of the biggest blood shortages that we’ve had in over a decade, we need as many people as possible to come out and donate blood”Īccording to the Mary Brant, the Communications Manager for the Red Cross Northern New England Region, there are many reasons why someone could be temporarily or permenatly unable to donate blood. In order to gather data related to the possibility of using an individual risk assessment behavior-based health history questionnaire in the U.S. Newssource 8′s Corey Bouchard takes a look at how this policy is impacting the blood supply, and how it has impacted individuals in the community. PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) -Despite a nationwide blood shortage, Many people in the LGBTQ Community are Restricted from donating blood.