![can gay men donate blood nyblood can gay men donate blood nyblood](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/photo-1-copy.jpg)
CAN GAY MEN DONATE BLOOD NYBLOOD FULL
He asked the New York Blood Center to join in his push for a full reversal of the FDA ban on gay male donors. “I'm glad that in response to concerns by the LGBTQ community - including both Lukus Estok, a gay COVID-19 survivor, who was turned away from donating plasma, and now me - the New York Blood Center has announced a timeline for updating its donation protocols,” Hoylman said in a statement.īut he added, “With such a dire need for donations, it’s a shame eligible gay and bisexual men still can’t donate blood to the New York Blood Center.” It simultaneously put out a call for healthy blood donors, saying earlier this week that the “need for blood has rebounded to pre-COVID-19 levels, but the blood supply is dangerously low.” It anticipated greater need as regions of the state reopen and elective surgeries begin again. The organization hopes to welcome new donors by early June. “We received that at the end of last week and immediately began the process of modifying our computer systems, updating all of our procedures and training our 400 staff members.” NYBCe Statement on FDA MSM Deferral Policy - NYBCs workforce and donor base includes diverse individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual. “We have been waiting for the FDA to approve the language in our donor questionnaire that details these changes,” the spokesperson said. A spokesperson said the organization was an advocate for the FDA changes. The New York Blood Center in a statement cited administrative hurdles to its adoption of the eased restrictions. State Senator Brad Hoylman who is openly gay, said he qualified to donate under the new rules and tried to give blood at a New York Blood Center facility on May 6 but was turned away. Donors age 76 and older can continue to donate blood if they meet all eligibility criteria. Donors age 16-18 are also subject to additional height/weight restrictions. Amid the Coronavirus pandemic, the FDA amended those guidelines to allow for donations from men who’ve refrained from sex with other men for three months. You may donate if you are at least 17 years old (16 years old with written consent from parent or legal guardian), weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health. Food and Drug Administration previously banned men who’ve had sex with men from donating blood unless they’ve been celibate for one year. The FDA on April 2nd relaxed its restrictions on gay and bisexual men donating blood after a decades-long ban.īut the New York Blood Center says it can’t implement those changes until early June, even as it put out an urgent call for donors.