FDA PREPPING TO LIFT BAN ON GAY BLOOD DONATIONS

John McDonald

The Food and Drug Administration is expected to relax restrictions on how gay men donate blood.

Reporting by The Washington Post indicates the federal government is preparing to scrap its guidelines requiring gay and bisexual men to abstain from sex before giving blood. The new policy, reportedly, would allow all people in monogamous relationships to donate.

“So the new central question will be: Have you had anal sex with someone new in the last three months? It applies to everyone, meaning heterosexual women could potentially be excluded for the first time for doing anal,” tweeted Fenit Nirappil, one of the three Post reporters who worked on the story published Jan. 26.

I hear from the Board of Directors about the current status and heading of POTA.”

The email also seems to address transparency issues, saying, “At this time I’m also going to ask that all direct and indirect communication from the board take place via email.” SFGN reached out to Ziman, who declined comment.

One person said they were taking a “nose count” to see how the board wanted to proceed.

After weeks of avoiding questions, Pride President Miik Martorell responded to SFGN and gave a 48-minute interview by phone. During that conversation, he said preparations are moving forward.

CITY’S STEADFAST SUPPORT

The City of Fort Lauderdale continues to show unwavering support to Pride and POTA. When it became clear the usual beach location would be too expensive and too difficult to use (a major NHL event is there the weekend before), the city stepped in to find an alternate venue, Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park.

Commissioner Steve Glassman told SFGN that they are committed to making the event a success and overcoming obstacles. Glassman said the space is being provided free of charge. He also says the city will cover all police costs associated with the parade and party in the park. Glassman said that was originally expected to be about $58,000, but he expects it to be less now that POTA has been scaled back from a weekend long party in Fort Lauderdale to just one day in the city on Feb. 11.

The public will be given time to comment before the FDA adopts its new regulations. The update is further dismantling the rules put in place in response to the AIDS epidemic.

In 2015, the FDA lifted a lifetime ban on blood donations by gay and bisexual men, which health experts and LGBT activists had long considered to be archaic and homophobic. Presently, all men who have sex with men are required to abstain from sex for three months before giving blood. Since 1985, all blood donors have been tested for HIV. Upon implementation, the new rules will bring the United States in alignment with current policies in Canada and the United Kingdom.