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New law seeks to lift ban on gay, bisexual men blood donors
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SACRAMENTO — Healthy gay and bisexual men would be able to donate blood if new legislation approved by the Assembly Tuesday succeeds. The proposed law, called the U.S. Blood Donor Nondiscrimination Resolution, asks the federal government to repeal a Food and Drug Administration rule prohibiting healthy gay and bisexual men from donating blood. Adopted in 1983, the measure targeted those most associated with HIV and AIDS amid fears about transmitting the little-known disease. But new screening techniques and a better understanding of HIV and AIDS make the prohibition is unnecessary. "Today's advanced blood screening technology allows us to detect and isolate blood containing the virus that causes HIV/AIDS," Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, said in a press release. Ammiano sponsored the bill. "The FDA is well aware of this technology as well as the erroneous and unscientific belief that the virus is only spread by gay and bisexual men. I hope President Obama hears our call to change this shameful and discriminatory practice immediately, so we can save more lives." The proposed law opens up a new resource for blood donations at a time when it's desperately needed. "No healthy and willing donor should ever be turned away,: said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, which sponsored the bill. "Repealing this ban would provide a desperately needed increase to the nation's blood supply and will help save more lives." The resolution moves to the state Senate in January 2010. For more information on Equality California's legislation visit 222.eqca.org/legislation. Equality California is a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy group.
