Congressman Mike Honda will host a press conference to call on the Food and Drug Administration to end the discriminatory regulation that prohibits gay and bisexual men from donating blood.
“Despite tremendous advances in the medical and biotech fields, the Food and Drug Administration still bans blood donations from gay and bisexual men,” Congressman Honda said. “The American Medical Association now opposes this discriminatory and outdated restriction. Our society is increasingly supporting equality for LGBT people. I will fight this ban that only marginalizes, stigmatizes, and stereotypes healthy people across the country.”
“The ban on gay men donating blood is an archaic and discriminatory policy that precludes gay Americans from participating fully in our society,” added Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager. “Thanks to advances in testing science, overturning this ban would increase the donor blood supply and help save thousands of lives.”
"With the risk of man-made and natural disasters that could injure thousands of people, it's inconceivable that we would be turning away gay donated blood that has been scientifically tested to be safe,” said Councilmember Evan Low. “I urge the FDA to join the U.K., Canada, and Australia in rescinding this lifetime discriminatory ban.”
Congressman Mike Honda
Since coming to Congress, Mike has helped secure $900 million to bring BART to Silicon Valley and, with it, an estimated 5,500 construction jobs and 7,800 jobs supporting the effort. He authored the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, which invested nearly $4 billion in research and development. To support early childhood education, he secured $8.6 billion this year for Head Start, so every child begins school ready to learn. He fought for, and won, over $120 million in funding to help speed up claims processing for Bay Area vets who have put their lives on the line to defend our freedom.
Website: honda.house.gov
Location: 2001 Gateway PL Suite 670W
Phone: 408-436-2720
Facebook: facebook.com/repmikehonda
Twitter: @repmikehonda
