Congressman Mike Quigley of Chicago is calling out discriminatory rules preventing gay men from donating blood. Illinois Public Radio’s Michael Puente reports.
Following the attack on a nightclub in Orlando, dozens of gay men who wanted to give blood were turned away by donor banks. Quigley says this practice needs to stop because there’s no scientific reason for it. The Democrat is urging the Food and Drug Administration to change its policy.
QUIGLEY: A straight man not practicing safe sex, not in a monogamous relationship, can give blood. As many of my friends in the gay community are long term monogamous, safe-sex relationship and they can’t give blood. That’s discriminatory on its face.
Earlier this year, the FDA modified its lifetime ban prohibiting gay men from donating blood to a one-year deferral. But only if the donor has not had sex for a year.
