Queens reps urge end to ‘antiquated’ anti-LGBTQ blood donation policy

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez urged the FDA to remove restrictions on blood donation for LGBTQ men. AP Photo/Scott Applewhite

By David Brand 

A pair of Queens congressmembers have urged the federal government to lift a ban on blood donation for gay and bisexual men in light of the long-term impacts of the coronavirus crisis on the nation’s blood supply.

U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote a letter to the Food and Drug Administration Wednesday advising the agency to change policy, which dates back to  the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

“This antiquated policy is not based on current science, stigmatizes the LGBTQIA+ community, and undermines crucial efforts to increase the nation’s blood supply as the United States grapples with the coronavirus crisis,” Maloney and Ocasio-Cortez wrote.

The policy was initially implemented in 1983 in an attempt to prevent HIV-infected blood from entering the donated supply. The policy was grounded in  an outdated understanding of the HIV crisis and has been criticized as discriminatory.

The FDA on Thursday announced new guidance on blood donation for LGBTQ men. Men who have sex with men now must wait three months to donate blood, down from 12, the FDA said.

The nation faces a blood shortage as people stay away from donation sites due to social distancing rules. Donation is still considered an essential service, however.