Media Center
Latest News
June 14, 2016
House Democrats are encouraging the Food and Drug Administration to reverse course on a rule that bars many gay men from donating blood and shift toward more rigorous testing for all potential donors.
Issues:
LGBTQI+ Rights
Health Care
June 14, 2016
When news broke early Sunday morning of a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that killed 50 people and left over 50 critically injured, residents of the city began lining up in droves to offer their support at local blood banks. But the community hit hardest by the tragedy—gay men—was left feeling powerless because of a ban enacted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration more than 30 years ago that prevents gay men and men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating blood.
Issues:
LGBTQI+ Rights
Health Care
June 14, 2016
U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Vice-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, Barbara Lee (CA-13), Jared Polis (CO-02), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Xavier Becerra (CA-34), and Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18), along with David Stacy, Government Affairs Director at Human Rights Campaign (HRC), called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert M. Califf to end the discriminatory blood donation deferral policy for men who have sex with men (MSM) once and for all. The current policy for MSM requires a 12-month deferral, or celibacy, period before being able to donate blood.
Issues:
LGBTQI+ Rights
Health Care
June 13, 2016
U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Vice-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), and Barbara Lee (CA-13), along with U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement regarding the tragic mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) blood donation deferral policy for men who have sex with men (MSM)
Issues:
LGBTQI+ Rights
Health Care
June 13, 2016
For a copy of the resolution please click here.
Congratulating the Chicago Blackhawks on winning the 2013 Stanley Cup Championship.
Whereas the historic Chicago Blackhawks, as one of the˜˜Original Six'', have made countless contributions to sports;
June 13, 2016
Leading gay rights advocates in Congress plan to ask the White House to end a decades-old policy that prohibits many gay men from donating blood in the wake of the deadly Orlando, Fla., shooting at a gay nightclub.
Issues:
LGBTQI+ Rights
Health Care
June 13, 2016
WASHINGTON — In the hours following Sunday’s mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, local officials made urgent appeals for people to donate blood. But gay and bisexual men were not welcome.
Issues:
LGBTQI+ Rights
Health Care
June 13, 2016
“Politicians from around the state condemn the attack, including U.S. Representative Mike Quigley who serves on the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.”
Issues:
Gun Violence Prevention
June 13, 2016
Congressional Democrats on Monday urged the removal of U.S. restrictions on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, calling the policy unwarranted in the aftermath of Sunday's shooting rampage at a gay nightclub in Florida.
Issues:
LGBTQI+ Rights
Health Care
June 13, 2016
Well yes, another mass shooting, this one more deadly than any before it. Oman Mateen’s actions yesterday morning are being ascribed to the influence of ISIS, homophobia, mental instability, and the availability of high powered weapons. So, what can government do? Also, the impact on and reaction from American Muslims and the LGBT community. These are our three points of discussion tonight. Congressman Mike Quigley is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and he is Vice Chair of the Congressional LGBT Quality Caucus, and we have him on the phone.