Res. No. 150
Title
Resolution calling upon United States Food and Drug Administration to remove any blood donation restrictions based on sexual orientation.
Body
By Council Member Dromm
Whereas, A ban on men who have had sex with other men (MSM) donating blood was enacted in 1983 by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), when there was very little information on HIV/AIDS and even less information on care and treatment; and
Whereas, There have been significant advancements in science, technology and medical developments relating to HIV and AIDS over the last 35 years; and
Whereas, Several advanced testing methods for HIV can detect the presence of HIV in a donor's blood sample in approximately 7-10 days after infection; and
Whereas, Numerous public health groups including the American Red Cross, the American Association of Blood Banks, America's Blood Centers, the American Medical Association (AMA) and leading LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations had urged that the FDA's lifetime restriction be revised; and
Whereas, The AMA has called for individual testing assessments instead of a blanket policy based on sexual orientation and has condemned the lifetime ban as "discriminatory"; and
Whereas, The New York Blood Center (NYBC) has alerted the public of several emergency blood shortages in New York in recent years; and
Whereas, In December 2015, the FDA finalized guidance for the industry, shifting from a complete ban on MSM to donate blood to a one-year deferral period since last male-to-male sexual contact; and
Whereas, The new deferral period essentially requires gay and bisexual men to remain celibate for a minimum of one year in order to donate blood, which in practicality prevents about half the blood donor population of sexually active gay men from donating; and
Whereas, The new FDA guidelines also address gender for the first time, stating that gender will be "self-identified and self-repor...
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