According to the Blood is Blood website: “Due to the stigma of another era, members of the community can’t be proud of their own blood. The Food and Drug Administration claims that the blood of men who have had sex with men in the last 12 months is ‘too risky’ to donate.

 

“Instead of making the call based on real risk-factors, the regulation discriminations based on sexual orientation.”

 

“All blood is screened, and everyone can be at risk for HIV," argued Peter Meacher, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. "The more we pathologize HIV by attaching it to certain communities, we are perpetuating stereotypes that ultimately harm us all. Everyone should be thinking about HIV prevention and screening methods should reflect that by basing criteria on behaviors, not orientation or identity. Banning a specific group from performing a civic duty is stigmatizing and when based on shoddy science, is clearly discriminatory.”