May 31, 2010 - WHAS 11

Since 1983, there's been a ban on gay men donating blood.  Some call the lifetime-deferral antiquated, while others say it's a health issue.  But after 27 years in existence, the FDA is reviewing the ban.

WHAS11’s Adrianna Hopkins was at the American Red Cross in downtown Louisville with the story.

The American Red Cross is one of several blood banks asking the FDA to reconsider the ban.

The FDA has reviewed the ban in the past - once in 2000 and again in 2006. Both times, they upheld the ban.

For 27 years, men who have had sex with another man just once have been banned from donating blood.

The FDA implemented the ban in 1983, during the height of the HIV scare, when testing for HIV positive blood didn't exist.

Today, now that more accurate testing for all diseases does exist, activists, blood organizations and several U.S. Senators say the ban is "medically and scientifically unwarranted."

Health experts say, however, that statistics show gay men have a higher rate of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B. They say this ban is a health concern.

Chris Hartman, the director of the Fairness Campaign, says straight people get these diseases too and this ban is simply discriminatory based on societal fears.

"The fact that this ban continues to exist and there are tests for all of these things, just against gay men makes it prejudicial ban," he said. “This categorically eliminates probably 4 million potential blood donors.

Other deferrals exist also.

For instance, certain medical conditions and travel to certain countries defer people from donating blood for health reasons.

Karen Stecher, a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross, says the organization is excited the FDA is reviewing the gay ban.

 "We do think there are a number of people out there who do want to donate and this particular deferral criteria keeps them away,” she said.

Still, as the Red Cross has always said, the need for blood is constant, and they’ve always made blood safety their priority.

"The primary concern for the American Red Cross is the safety of the blood supply,” said Stecher. “We want to make sure that the blood patients in hospitals are receiving is as safe as possible."

On June 10th and 11th, the Federal Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability will consider the lifting this ban.