In 2015, that rule was amended to allow gay and bisexual men to donate if they'd been celibate for a year.ĭuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the celibacy requirement has been lowered to three months. Long after processes were created to test blood products to determine if they're safe, no matter who donates, there are still restrictions-albeit looser ones.
The policy dates back to the height of the the AIDS crisis, when HIV was not well understood and there was fear of a 'contaminated' blood supply. There's a twisted silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic: Some gay and bisexual men are able to donate blood for the first time.įederal Drug Administration (FDA) rules long forbid men who have sex with other men from donating blood.