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The new coronavirus can't be spread through blood. We will keep fighting until the deferral period is lifted and gay and bi men, and all LGBTQ people, are treated equal to others."ĭonated blood is screened for a number of infectious diseases, including HIV. Anyone who has had anal sex with a new partner or multiple partners in the last three months, regardless of their gender or their partner’s gender, must wait 3 months before donating. The FDA's decision to lower the deferral period on men who have sex with men from 12 months to 3 months is a step towards being more in line with science, but remains imperfect. Men who have sex with men and who have had the same partner for 3 months or more and meet our other eligibility criteria are able to give blood. "This is a victory for all of us who raised our collective voices against the discriminatory ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood. In 2016, the government lowered the deferral period, clearing gay and bisexual men to donate blood after abstaining from sex with other men for one year, instead of five. Restrictions on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, who are considered to be at high risk for HIV or AIDS transmission, date back to the 1980s. "LGBTQ Americans can hold their heads up today and know that our voices will always triumph over discrimination," GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. In 2015, the guidance changed from a lifetime ban to a 12-month deferral, and the FDA determines the guidance used by all U.S. Gay rights groups have continued to challenge that policy, saying it's unnecessary given current testing technology and continues to stigmatize gay and bisexual men. is much more common among gay men, so the perception that they have a higher inherent risk was used to. In 2015, the FDA moved from a total ban to the one-year abstinence period for men who have sex with men. Both men and women have sex with strangers who might be infected, of course, but H.I.V. and many other countries have long restricted donations from gay and bisexual men and several other groups due to the risk of spreading HIV through the blood supply. Peter Marks, the director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a news release. "These changes are being put forth for immediate implementation and are expected to remain in place after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, with any appropriate changes based on comments we receive and our experience implementing the guidance," Dr.