This petition is in support of the revision of the FDA’s current blood deferral policy that makes men who have sex with men (MSM) BANNED4LIFE. This policy was put in place because it considers MSM “High-Risk” for contracting HIV/AIDS. This outdated 1983 policy needs to be re-looked and compared with the modern blood screening methods that are currently in place.

The policy turns away potentially good donors with no regard to their sexual behaviors. It is time for the FDA to consider sexual behaviors instead of sexual identity or sexual orientation when identifying individuals as “High-Risk.”