WBBM: Quigley Discusses Blood Donor Ban on Gay and Bisexual Men

The following is a transcript of a radio interview that originally aired on WBBM on January 31, 2014. You can listen to the original interview online here.

Reporter:IllinoisCongressman Mike Quigley says it's about time and he says chances are good for lifting of the nationwide ban on blood donations by gays.

WBBM NewsRadio Reporter John Cody:Congressman Quigley says ban arose in the eighties over concerns for safety of the nation's blood supply but he says scientists have learned how to screen for AIDS.

Rep. Quigley: So at this point in time it just stigmatizes a large segment of our population for absolutely no health reasons.

Cody:Quigley says he has bipartisan support for an end to the ban.

Quigley:I think the practical chances that this change will take place are nearly 100 percent.

Cody: But Congressman Quigley also says he expects it will still take a year or two before the ban on blood donations by gays is lifted.