More Gay Men to be Granted Access to Blood Donation in Seattle

A huge step in the queer community has been made reality in Seattle. For a very long time, queer people were banned from giving any type of blood donation amid the aids epidemic of the ’80s.

The AIDS epidemic was harmful to the queer community as many associated aids with same-gender couples. Becoming one of the most harmful accusations towards the queer community.

Even though it has been debunked that AIDS does not affect just LGBTQ+ folks, queer people are still not allowed to donate blood.

This continues to harm the community because it takes history back to the days when queer people were subject to brutal attacks and constant bullying, practices that unfortunately still exist today.

John Rubino felt this brunt of discrimination after wanting to donate blood in order to help those recovering from COVID, many requiring blood transfusions in order to stay healthy. Rubino, as a survivor of COVID, said he felt the need to help, but was instantly turned away for being gay.

However, in a victorious twist of fate, the U.S. food and drug administration will finally change criteria for donating blood, now requiring anyone who donates blood to submit to HIV-transmission risk regardless of gender. This will allow any gay or bisexual man to donate blood.

Donating blood should not be determined by anyone’s sexuality, and basing it on this sends a harmful message to the queer community and only backtracks history rather than making any advancement towards progress. Donating blood is about saving someone’s life, and such restrictions make the chances of saving someone’s life even lower.

Rubino vowed to be the first one in line as soon as Blood Works starts using the new regulations.

The new model that will be used will still require them to be screened for HIV. Those who are on HIV medication will be deferred for three months in order to prevent any transmitting of the disease. Doctors will still have to ask about anal sex, as it is possible to get HIV through that form of intercourse. Those who answered yes to anal sex will also be deferred three months.

Alcron, an employee of Blood Works, says that this model was implemented in the U.K. in 2021 and was introduced in Canada back in 2022. So far, they have not seen signs of HIV or AIDS in recipients who received blood from gay or bi men.

While this is a huge step in the right direction, it has not been applied across the nation yet, But if the FDA approves of this change, it would finally be a huge step in breaking a stigma that has followed the gay community for over 40 years.