Coronavirus Causing Blood Shortages in New Mexico

(Santa Fe, NM) – Following the White House’s recent updated guidance to address the urgent need for blood during the COVID-19 pandemic, New Mexico Lt. Governor Howie Morales today joined with 18 of the nation’s Lieutenant Governors in pushing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s to eliminate the arbitrary three-month wait for gay, bisexual, queer and transgender men to donate blood.  The lieutenant governors this morning came out condemning the FDA’s discriminatory ruling.

“The FDA’s across-the-board deferrals on this group of Americans from donating blood discriminate, period.  It is based neither in science, nor in the best expertise on this urgent issue facing the country today.  With New Mexico and other states facing severe blood supply shortages because of the COVID-19 emergency, the White House must fix the nation’s blood donation policies immediately, so that they are based on an individual’s risk, rather than blanket deferrals,” Lt. Governor Howie Morales said.

In a letter to FDA’s Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Dr. Stephen Hahn, Morales and the Lieutenant Governors wrote:

“We write to you today to request that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration remove restrictions prohibiting blood banks from accepting blood and plasma donations from gay, bisexual, queer and transgender men unless they have been celibate for three months.  This is an antiquated and discriminatory ban that is not based in scientific evidence.  Given the increased demand for blood and plasma donations due to COVID-19, keeping this ban in place is undermining our nation’s blood supply during a severe shortage, which could keep us from saving lives.”

The 18 Lieutenant Governors join the American Red Cross saying that eligibility should not be determined by methods that are based upon sexual orientation. Furthermore, the Williams Institute at the UCLA law school estimates that should the ban be lifted, an additional 360,000 men would be likely to donate.  This could help save the lives of more than a million Americans.

The full letter is below:

April 9, 2020

Dr. Stephen Hahn,

Commissioner of Food & Drugs

United States Food & Drug Administration

10903 New Hampshire Ave

Silver Spring, MD 20993

Dear Commissioner Hahn,

We write to you today to request that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration remove restrictions prohibiting blood banks from accepting blood and plasma donations from gay, bisexual, and queer men, as well as many transgender individuals, unless they have been celibate for three months. This is an antiquated and discriminatory ban that is not based in scientific evidence. Given the increased demand for blood and plasma donations due to COVID-19, keeping this ban in place is undermining our nation’s blood supply during a severe shortage, which could keep us from saving lives.

Leading medical organizations have established that this ban is not based in science. It is clear this is a discriminatory policy as heterosexual men face no such ban. The American Red Cross has also spoken out against the ban noting that “the American Red Cross believes blood donation eligibility should not be determined by methods that are based upon sexual orientation.”

Our nation’s blood banks are currently experiencing severe shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shelter in place policies. During this time, we cannot afford to arbitrarily restrict people from donating blood. The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law estimates that should the ban be lifted, an additional 360,000 men would be likely to donate. This could help save the lives of more than a million Americans.

We urge you to lift this ban and help save lives. Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions or need additional information. Thank you very much for your consideration.

###