U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
US Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) says the FDA did not go far enough, when it announced this week it would end a lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood.
The change in the ban now only prevents those individuals from donating blood if they have been sexually active with other men in the past year. The FDA says it’s meant to reflect the most current scientific evidence, while making sure the nation’s blood supply remains safe.
Baldwin calls the move a good first step, which will help end an outdated and medically unnecessary policy. However, the Wisconsin Democrat argues the new policy still unfairly singles out one group of individuals, and is vowing to continue pushing federal officials to create rules that base donation decisions on individual risk factors.