LGBTQ advocacy groups have called on the American government to relax restrictions that currently prevent gay and bisexual men from donating blood. This push comes as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has created a critical shortage of blood donations, per The Hill.
On Friday, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) launched a Nationbuilder petition to remove the rules, calling the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) current standards “antiquated” and “absurd.” The FDA currently requires that men who have had sex with men in the last 12 months face a year-long deferral period months before being allowed to donate blood.
“Holding on to an antiquated, discriminatory ban during these uncertain times is absurd. The FDA needs to put science above stigma. Gay men, bisexual men, and men who have sex with men want to give blood and should be able to contribute to help their fellow Americans,” the petition reads.
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