Even as members of their society are still bleeding from the brutal shootings in Orlando, many gay men were turned away from donating blood to help in the medical response.
The dual response from top lawmakers: ‘What gay blood ban?’
I have never heard of that! It is crazy! It is the first time I have ever heard of that, I don’t know anything about that.” Democratic Senator Manchin Joe of West Virginia.
Republican Senator Graham Lindsey of South Carolina said that he didn’t know there was a ban and that he would urge them to think about it again.
The Food and drug administration put a lifetime ban on gay men donating blood throughout the increase of the HIV epidemic in the 1980s. The FDA disengaged this restriction in December 2015, permitting gay men who have been virgin for a year to donate. Regardless of scientific developments in blood screening technology, the FDA continues to exclude many gay men even those in monogamous relationships from donating blood.
This has infuriated gay rights supporters, who demand that policy should be based on if individuals have engaged in risky behavior, instead of sexual orientation. For instance, straight male blood donors don’t have to be virginal for a year before donating blood.
Alex Brandon/AP
Anthony Hayes, the vice president for policy and public affairs for gay men’s health crisis, a management focused on HIV/AIDS issues said that in the wake of the shootings, folks wanted to go donate and couldn’t He added that they want the ban reversed, to have a blood donation system in America that is both safe and all-encompassing.
Notably among the LGBT advocacy society, it’s a key matter of concern. Although in the halls of the Capitol on Tuesday, which happens to be World Blood Donor Day, the subject brings up baffled looks and themes captioned please call my office.
Tennessee Republican Senator Corker Bob, who has spent almost a period of ten years in the Senate, told The Daily Beast that he doesn’t know about those topics off [the top of] his head. Then he referred the question to his spokesperson.
Republican Senator Johnson Ron of Wisconsin added that it’s an issue he had never even really thought about.
This is a dominant challenge for gay rights supporters inside and outside Congress, who have spent years forcing the FDA to change their policy on who can donate blood and now affirm that the shooting in Orlando can spur change.
Rep. Mike Quigley, a Democratic member from Illinois said that the wicked irony of this policy is typified by the terrorist attack, where the victims were aiming for being members of the LGBT society and the gay bisexual men who desired to donate blood of those in need were restricted from doing so. Democratic members of Congress gathered in front of the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon, in front of a posted that blood is blood; that it reads, on a rainbow background, Gay or Straight.
Rep. Jared Polis of Colorado said that there were so many gay victims who are involved with the attack, and many of their dear ones were moved to step up and assist their fellow Americans although were not able to. He also said that the pretenses of this policy are gone and that it was never based on science in the first instance. He also added that one year is an absolutely subjective period, clearly, and straight people are not needed to abstain.
Although, the lawmakers have not suggested any legislation to force the FDA to change its policy, regardless of having worked on the matter for years. Generally, bills are written for some issues including many that have no chance of ever becoming law. So it is difficult to understand that none has been introduced in this case.
California Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee said that they… recognize that legislation takes a long time; and that this is an emergency; an executive order should be delivered, an administrative modification should take place immediately.
The White House declined Tuesday on calls for the administration(FDA) to do just that, and told reporters at the daily press conference that they have no plans to make any changes.
It was a slap in the face to a society already deep in lamentation.