Can gay women donate blood

Thank you for considering blood donation. You do not need to tell Versiti staff at the donation site that you are transgender. Transgender individuals are welcome to donate blood. We continue to advance practices based on science, stewardship, and the needs of both donors and patients.

At the heart of everything we do is a simple truth: Every eligible donor matters. Learn about federal regulations related to blood donation by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and Gender non-conforming (LGBTQ+) individuals.

The new FDA policy further ensures safety of the blood supply, treats all potential donors equally and enables more people the opportunity to donate blood. This process must be data-driven, so the timeframe for future changes is not something that can be predicted.

However, the FDA regulates blood donation requirements at the federal level. Every gift of blood carries hope, healing, and life to someone in need. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Thursday it had officially eliminated restrictions that had previously prohibited many blood donations by gay and bisexual men — a longstanding policy.

At Versiti, we believe that saving lives is a shared commitment.

LGBTQ and Blood Donation : S

The FDA’s previous donor eligibility criteria based on sexual orientation, which made it challenging for gay and bisexual men to donate blood, has been eliminated. At the same time, the FDA will continue to work in this area and review its donor deferral policies to ensure they reflect the most up-to-date scientific knowledge.

This change is rooted in years of evidence-based research and reflects a growing commitment to fairness, science, and the health of every donor and every patient. Versiti remains committed to growing a vibrant and varied blood supply that reflects the communities we serve.

Thanks to new guidance from the U. On August 28,Versiti began implementing the FDA's updated individual risk assessment approach for blood donation. This approach recognizes that infectious diseases like HIV can affect anyone. Instead, eligibility is based new guidelines that evaluate all donors equally regardless of gender or preferred partners and consider anal sex with new or multiple partners in the last three months regardless of sexual orientation.

Our staff members are required to confirm your demographic information, including gender, but if our records have the incorrect gender, you may ask for it to be changed. All potential donors, regardless of sexual orientation, are now asked the same screening questions about recent sexual behavior.

The FDA guidance based on behavior applies to trans donors regardless of gender identity. Your eligibility is based on the donor criteria of your reported gender.

Your compassion strengthens our entire community and gives life to those who need it most. However, if you have previously donated at Versiti and have changed your name as well, it is important to link your old donation record with your current one. The new Donor History Questionnaire is gender-neutral and will pose all questions to all donors regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.

You may request this update prior to your donation by calling Versiti customer service. The new FDA Guidance no longer defers men who have sex with men and deems this gender-based question irrelevant to establishing blood donor eligibility.

Every day, patients in your community need blood transfusions to survive and thrive.