Photo by Reverend Hoyt-McDaniels/American Red Cross
Aug. 7, 2023, celebrated a landmark change for the American Red Cross and blood donors. Due to updated FDA blood donation eligibility guidelines no longer based on sexual orientation, the Red Cross is now able to welcome more donors to its lifesaving mission.
This change means many healthy individuals who previously could not give are now able to support their community through the gift of blood donation. All potential donors will see the same questions related to eligibility through a new history questionnaire adopted by all blood collection organizations in the U.S. The new, standardized guidelines will assess donors based on their own personal risk factors, not on sexual orientation.
For Reverend Rick Hoyt-McDaniels, this change is a celebrated return to a time when he was a routine donor. In the early 1980s, his college had regular blood drives and he donated every time they were on campus. When the FDA changed its policy during the early days of the HIV epidemic, Hoyt-McDaniels was no longer able to donate, a paradigm shift he recalls as hurtful.
“For forty years I gave in other ways, as I could, but I was locked out from donating blood. And then, last month, I finally gave blood again for the first time in 40 years.”
The momentous occasion was especially meaningful, as the blood drive was held at the church where Hoyt-McDaniels is a minister.
“Previously, I was excluded from giving even in my own church but last month I was able to make an appointment,” Hoyt-McDaniels said, “Now there is even an app to make an appointment on your phone!”
Hoyt-McDaniels and many others are now able to share their good health with patients in need of lifesaving blood products.
The Red Cross celebrates this historic move as significant progress and remains committed to achieving an inclusive blood donation process that treats all potential donors with equality and respect while maintaining the safety of the blood supply. The Red Cross is committed to achieving further progress and will continue to provide data to the FDA in support of making blood donation even more inclusive.
Learn more
The Red Cross welcomes everyone who wishes to be part of our humanitarian mission. You can learn more about the new guidelines and see updates as part of our Eligibility FAQs. LGBTQ+ community-specific information is also provided on our LGBTQ+ Donors page.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA.
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