LGBTQ+ Donors
Learn about federal regulations related to blood donation by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and Gender non-conforming (LGBTQ+) individuals. The new policy does not require blood banks to ask donors their sexual orientation. Instead, an individual risk assessment will apply to everyone. 
Blood Donation by Gay and Bisexual Men
With the updated guidelines, most gay and bisexual men who are in a monogamous relationship with a man will no longer have to refrain from sex in order to donate blood. Did you know that the FDA has made eligibility changes that promote fairness and inclusivity in the blood donation process while maintaining the safety of the blood supply? With this update, sexual orientation is no longer a consideration for donor eligibility.
LGBTQ+ Blood Donors
“We’re finally progressing (away from) the stigma that gay or queer men will carry those diseases regardless of what their sexual life is like,” choral music sophomore Ethan Montez said. Central Texas is experiencing an all-time high need for blood donation, Canedo said, making the expansion of donor eligibility more important. Support hands-on experiences such as The Daily Texan for generations to come. Brandon Wollerson donated blood for the first time in high school before he realized he was gay. Austin blood donation center We Are Blood expands eligibility
Blood donations centers and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups are celebrating expanded eligibility to donate blood after new guidance from the Food and Drug Administration. Thanks to new federal guidelines finalized in May, gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships can now donate at many blood centers around the country without abstaining from sex. Bloodworks Northwest, where Smith works as a donor services supervisor, adopted the change on Dec. 
More gay and bisexual men will now be able to donate blood
In , the FDA made changes that would become more inclusive. Gay and bisexual men were allowed to donate blood if they had abstained from sexual intercourse for at least 12 months. Robbie Goldstein donated blood two weeks ago for the first time in his life. Both have devoted their lives to medicine and public service.
Donate with Pride
Thanks to new federal guidelines finalized in May, gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships can now donate at many blood centers around the country. .
New FDA blood donation rules for gay men
The new FDA policy further ensures safety of the blood supply, treats all potential donors equally and enables more people the opportunity to donate blood. The FDA’s previous donor eligibility criteria based on sexual orientation, which made it challenging for gay and bisexual men to donate blood, has been eliminated. . FDA drops restrictions that prevented gay, bisexual men from
Donor gender can also impact the level of hemoglobin required for a donor to safely donate blood. In absence of this information, blood centers would have to utilize the most conservative levels which would mean some donors that could safely donate blood would be unable to do so. .