Statement: New FDA Regulations are ‘Stigma and Discrimination at Work’
The blood ban on men who have sex with men is still in full effect after the FDA updated their regulations.
WASHINGTON, DC— Today, news broke that the FDA would reduce it’s blood ban on men who have had sex with other men. Now men can donate after 3 months after their last sexual contact with another man, as opposed to 12 months. Following the announcement, David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) released the following statement:
“This is stigma and discrimination at work. Though the waiting period may have changed, the policy has not. There is still a blanket ban on sexually active gay, bisexual, and same gender loving men. This is a slap in the face to both LGBTQ+ communities and the many who will need blood and plasma transfusions during this crisis. There is no reason to keep the ban in effect, period.”