Seattle activists want ban lifted on blood donations by gay men
Jul 15, 2013, 5:38 AM | Updated: 7:31 am
Activists in Seattle and across the country say it's time for the federal government to lift a ban on the donation of blood by gay and bisexual men. (AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
Activists in Seattle and across the country say it’s time for the federal government to lift a ban on the donation of blood by gay and bisexual men.
On Friday, at blood centers in 53 locations, including Seattle’s Puget Sound Blood Center, gay men got in line to donate in violation of the policy of the Food and Drug Administration.
“Now is a great time, marriage equality is happening all over the country, DOMA [the Defense of Marriage Act] has been lifted, so why not get rid of this antiquated FDA policy as well,” said Grier Phillips, event organizer in Seattle.
The ban was implemented in 1984, designed to keep HIV-inflected blood out of the supply.
Phillips talked to the President of the Puget Sound Blood Center in Seattle, James AuBuchon, who conceded the regulations should be updated, based on “objective scientific evidence.” He admits he disagrees with the policy.
“Whether or not we might entirely agree with all the tenets of the FDA regulations, we are bound to adhere to them,” he said.
AuBuchon said the FDA has the policy under active review.
Gay rights activists say the ban on blood donations no longer makes sense because the overwhelming number of gay men are not infected.
