GMHC Supports Additional Research on Lifting Lifetime Ban on Gay Men from Donating Blood

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Krishna Stone | 212.367.1016

Washington, DC — On Friday, June 11, the Health and Human Services (HHS) Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability (ACBSA) voted against recommending a change to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) current policy which permanently prohibits any man who has had sex with another man even once since 1977 from donating blood.  The vote came after two days of testimonies from medical professionals and leadership of community-based organizations, including Gay Men's Health Crisis. The Committee cited insufficient scientific data to support a change, yet recommended additional research to support a more adequate policy that would allow low-risk gay and bisexual men to donate blood. The recommendations will be submitted for consideration to the Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Howard K. Koh.

"While we believe the scientific basis exists to move from a lifetime ban on all gay and bisexual men to a behavior-based deferral which excludes high-risk donors and allows low-risk gay men to donate blood, we appreciate the thoughtfulness with which the Committee wrestled with this issue," said Sean Cahill, PhD, Managing Director of Public Policy, Research and Community Health.  "We are also thankful that the Committee called for cognitive testing research on questions about sexual behavior that could allow us to move to a policy that is more effective at screening out high-risk donors--gay, straight or bisexual-- and less stigmatizing."

Sean Cahill and Nathan Schaefer, Director of Public Policy at GMHC, provided recommendations at the ACBSA convening. Many of GMHC's research recommendations are reflected in the recommendations proposed by the Committee.

"We thank the HHS Committee for the opportunity to present at the hearings," said Schaefer.  "We also thank the fair-minded elected officials, including Senator Kerry and Representatives Weiner, Baldwin, Quigley, Frank, Nadler and others, who called for an alternative to the lifetime ban on gay men donors, as well as the New York City Council, led by Speaker Quinn, and the Washington DC Council, which did the same.  We are confident that we can develop more effective screening questions and policies that will allow low-risk gay men to donate blood while improving the safety of our nation's blood supply."

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GMHC is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS.  We provide prevention and care services to men, women and families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City.  We advocate for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide.