Schiff Highlights Need for Nondiscriminatory Blood Donation Guidelines

West Pasadena Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff introduced a resolution Monday calling for blood donation policies to be grounded in science and based on individual risk factors that do not unfairly single out any groups so that all those who can safely donate are able to do so.

“Our nation faces a severe blood shortage, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever we need to remove any impediment that needlessly prevents Americans from donating blood to help save lives,” said Schiff. “There is a large contingent of healthy people that are able and willing to donate blood and plasma, but antiquated regulations prevent them from doing so. This resolution calls for a repeal of discriminatory guidelines against members of the LGBTQ community, and encourages them to be replaced with science-based criteria for individual-risk assessment.”

In April, the FDA announced an updated blood donation deferral policy to allow more healthy gay and bisexual men to donate blood. The new policy lowers the 12-month deferral to a 3-month deferral on blood donations for men who have sex with men.

“Federal policy for donating blood should be based on science, not based on fear and bias,” said Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David. “As the global pandemic wears on, we must continue to push the federal government to change this policy, which is not only discriminatory but undermines efforts to support and protect our communities.”