Eduardo Garcia challenges FDA blood donor policies

Coachella Valley Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia will join two fellow state assemblymen to introduce a resolution that calls on the federal government to reverse a long withstanding policy that prohibits gay and bisexual men from donating blood.

The resolution, titled Assembly Joint Resolution 16, challenges newly proposed U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines that would continue to require men who have had sex with other man within the past year to be prohibited from donating blood, according to a statement released by Garcia's office.

"The resolution calls on President Barack Obama to encourage the Secretary of Health and Human services to direct the FDA to develop science-based guidelines that focus on risk-assessment of individuals instead of the arcane and discriminatory standards that continue to discriminate against gay and bisexual men," the statement said.

Garcia, a Coachella Democrat, will join Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell) and Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) to introduce the resolution on Thursday morning. The three plan to donate blood at the Capitol Employees Blood Drive following the announcement.

Assemblyman Low, who is gay, is expected to be turned away, according to the press release.

Tatiana Sanchez is the Equality and Immigration reporter for The Desert Sun. She can be reached at (760) 778-6443, by email at Tatiana.sanchez@desertsun.com or on Twitter, @TatianaYSanchez.