The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ), in December, significantly reduced the timeframe during which gay men would have had to abstain from sex in order to make blood donations, down to 12 months. Many blood donation centers, however, have been slow to put that new rule into effect.
Chicagoan Michael Albert, a sign-language interpreter, began calling donation centers monthly after the change, only to be told that they were unprepared with new paperwork and changing over their computer systems. He had long wanted to donate blood.
"Every time there would be a natural disaster or something bad, like Sandy Hook, I would always want to donate, and end up thinking, 'Son of a bitch,'" he said. "For years, I thought, 'I can always lie; I know my blood is safe,'" he said. "But I just couldn't lie about it."
Albert, like many gay men, became even more eager to donate after the Pulse nightclub shootings in Orlando in June. "After Orlando, I called right away," he said.
The Pulse shootings highlighted numerous problems in the blood-donation system. After the incident, rumors circulated that the FDA would lift their ban on donations from sexually active gay men, but those proved to be false. Many gay men have wanted to donate, but couldn't, even as blood supplies ran low.
But Albert learned that LifeSource blood centers would begin accepting donations from gay men on July 18 and was finally able to make an appointment.
"We had to look at our processes," said LifeSource Regional Executive Director Eva Quinley. "It sounds like a very simple change, but we had to look at the different areas that change can affect."
Those included their questionnaires, databases and staff training, she said.
"We submit those changes back to the FDA," Quinley added. "Sometimes they have additional changes they want made, and sometimes they just go ahead and approve it. Fortunately, they approved them outright in this case."
Albert donated at the Evanston LifeSource blood center on July 18, the first day he was able. He joked that he was glad to donate, but lamented the reason he could: He hadn't had sex or traveled recently.
"I told my friends what I was doing today, and at first they'd say, 'Congratulations.' Then they'd realize why, and say, 'Oh, I'm sorry,' It's kind of true; the way the criteria are listed, if you're really boring, you make a great donor," he said.
Phlebologist Michelle Fiola, who attended to Albert, said that she was glad to see the new rule taking effect. "We're trying to replenish the supply—blood is needed so badly," she noted.
She took Albert's information and prepared him for the donation process. Once Fiola stuck him and adjusted the needle, he asked, "So, we're flowing?"
She said yes, and Albert added that it "hurt so good."
"Welcome to the family," replied Fiola.
"I can't wait to see what you do for Thanksgiving," he answered.
After Albert was finished, he said he planned on donating again in the near future, and he hoped that gay men who met the eligibility criteria would do so as well.
"Part of the reason I hope they come forward if they can is that maybe the FDA will see that the world doesn't collapse, that the blood supply is safe, and they can look into reducing the window," he added.
