Critical blood need continues in Kansas City; FDA revises LGBT men donors policy
Local organizations that accept blood donations are pleased with a shift in federal policy that relaxes previous restrictions on blood donors, but members of the LGBT community say it still falls short.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday it would be easing previous donor restrictions to prevent any shortages in hospitals caused by the coronavirus. The pandemic has led to the cancellation of numerous mass blood drives.
The revision allows blood banks to accept donations from men who haven’t had sex with other men in the last three months. Previously, the policy turned away gay and bisexual men for up to a year if they’d had sex.
Around the Kansas City metro, organizations that accept donations — like the Kansas City branch of the Red Cross — have expressed a critical need for blood. In the past three weeks, donors have helped get Missouri to a stable point, said Joe Zydlo, a spokesperson for the American Red Cross.
“We are still asking people to donate because eventually all of the cancellations will add up and we cannot get replacement drives fast enough,” Zydlo said.
The revision is in line with previous requests from the Red Cross that asked the waiting period to be shortened to three months.
“These changes will potentially allow more individuals to donate and help ensure blood collection organizations across the country continue to meet patient needs throughout this pandemic and beyond,” the Red Cross said in a statement sent by Zydlo.
In Kansas, 130 blood drives have been canceled since the outbreak began, leaving 3,000 donations to the American Red Cross uncollected through last Thursday. In Missouri and Arkansas, 325 Red Cross blood drives have been canceled, representing about 12,000 fewer blood donations than anticipated.
Rep. Brandon Woodard, a Lenexa Democrat who is one of the two openly gay lawmakers in the Kansas Legislature, said while the change is a first step, it doesn’t go far enough.
“Of course I’m glad to see progress, it’s still discriminatory,” Woodard said. “I’m excited they’re opening up the ability for some, but they’re still targeting part of the community.”
National organizations that advocate for LGBT individuals agreed. GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement the change is “a step towards being more in line with science, but remains imperfect.”
The FDA previously had the more stringent policy to help prevent the spread of HIV.
Under the new revised regulations, individuals who previously wanted to donate blood but were turned away, can be reconsidered.
People can still donate blood in Kansas and Missouri under stay-at-home orders.
“Hospitals have an ongoing need,” said Angie Springs, communications director for the Red Cross in Kansas City. “We still have an order for blood to be on the shelves.”