Elizabeth Warren Calls Out 'Discriminatory Policy' on Gay, Bi Men Donating Blood

A blocks-long line to donate blood in the wake of the Orlando shooting has been held up as a sign of human goodness in the face of tragedy. But it also underscored a longstanding - many say antiquated - policy that prevents the one group most directly impacted by the attack from donating.

The horrors at Orlando's Pulse gay club shone a light on the Food and Drug Administration policy, which has been on the books since 1983, implemented in the early days of the AIDS crisis. Now, Mass. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is among legislative leaders calling on the FDA to scrap the "discriminatory policy" altogether.

The FDA policy bars men who have sex with men from donating blood. Initially, the policy was instituted as a lifetime ban for any man who had ever had sexual contact with the same sex. In December 2015, it was modified to encompass a 12-month period, rather than a lifelong ban.

Shorter though it may be, the policy remains a discriminatory one, according to signatories on a letter sent by lawmakers to the FDA.

"Some of those most touched by this tragedy -- members of the LGBT community, who are especially eager to contribute to this response effort -- are finding themselves turned away," it reads in part. "Many healthy gay and bisexual men remain prohibited from donating needed blood."

The letter, first reported locally by The Boston Globe, was sent to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf through Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin's office Monday. Warren's signature was at the head of the letter, next to Baldwin's.

Also signed on was Sen. Ed Markey, Warren's fellow Massachusetts Democrat, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and numerous other Senate Democrats.

It asks that the FDA provide update on the implementation of its revised policy so far, to move swiftly to put it into practice and "to develop better blood donor deferral policies that are ground in science, based on individual risk factors, don't unfailry single out one group of individuals, and allow healthy Americans to donate."

>> Photo via Elizabeth Warren Twitter from 2016 Boston Pride Parade