Are gay men restricted from becoming registered donors?
The FDA Policy to determine if a potential donor may be at risk for HIV (the AIDS virus) or hepatitis disqualifies “any male who had sex with another male, even once, since 1977” from joining the registry. MatchMaker feels this policy is homophobic, but we are forced to follow the FDA guidelines while registering donors. MatchMaker has issued the following petition: With the intent of continuing our work to increase donorship, we, the undersigned, strongly protest the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) policy prohibiting all men who have had sex with men since 1977 from becoming blood or marrow donors. Whereas we acknowledge the critical importance of maintaining a safe blood supply, we reject a national policy that inequitably excludes (i.e. discriminates against) an entire population. We feel that a policy to prohibit potential donors should be based on actual UNSAFE sexual activity regardless of partner. To assume that all men who have sex with men are unfit blood/marrow donors by d
