Help End the Blood Ban on Gay and Bi+ Men

by HRC Staff

Help End the Blood Ban on Gay and Bi+ Men

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently conducting a study of gay and bisexual men—called the ADVANCE Study—that should allow it to modernize its blood donation policy and use an individualized risk assessment for all potential donors instead of a blanket discrimination on gay and bisexual men.

Currently, gay and bisexual men cannot donate blood unless they do not have sex of any kind for three months. For nearly 40 years, sexually active gay and bisexual men (sometimes referred to in public health circles as men who have sex with men or “MSM”) have not been allowed to donate blood.

A non-discriminatory policy would apply the same criteria to all blood donors, regardless of their LGBTQ+ identities.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Cisgender men between 18-39 who have had sex with another man in the past 3 months.

  • Study participants will be compensated for their time.

  • Must live in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, New Orleans, Orlando, San Francisco or Washington, DC.

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