Quigley Statement on Lifting of Gay Blood Ban in Argentina

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a Vice-Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, released the following statement in response to Argentina ending its ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood:

"I applaud the Argentinian Ministry of Health for ending its ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men (MSM), a decision Health Minister Daniel Gollán said was ‘scientifically and technically accurate.' MSM have been prohibited from donating blood in the United States since 1983 as a kneejerk reaction to the AIDS epidemic. However, this policy is outdated and discriminatory. That is why I have been working hard with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reverse the FDA's donor deferral policy for MSM. By having a time-based deferral that fails to exclude donors based on actual risk factors, the FDA is failing to maximize healthy donations to our nation's blood supply. I will continue to fight for a deferral policy based on behavioral risks and sound science until the United States can join the increasing number of nations that have a fair and equal blood donation policy for all."