The American Red Cross is now allowing gay and bisexual men to donate blood without restrictions that specifically single out a person’s sexual orientation or gender, the nonprofit group said Monday.

  • DaCookeyMonsta@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I think it was set up when AIDS was spreading amongst the gay community before they had a test for it.

    Of course, now they can both test for it and it spread well beyond the gay community for a while so it’s ridiculous that it was still a thing.

    • JustAManOnAToilet@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      They just removed restrictions for Brits that were in the UK between 1980-1996 too, so I guess they’re just getting around to opening things up and this was on the list.

      • Hyperreality@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Is the UK 1980-96 thing being removed too? That’s cool.

        Not just brits btw, but anyone who spent an extended time in the UK in the 80s/90s. IRC due to fears about CJD/Mad Cow’s Disease.

      • YoBuckStopsHere@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I was stationed in UK and couldn’t donate blood as a result. That was only ten years ago. Since they opened it back up I am getting constant calls to donate.