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The FDA’s lifetime ban on blood donation from gay men is discriminatory and perpetuates negative stereotypes.

Gay men are currently prohibited from giving blood based on an antiquated policy put in place before the advances in testing that are available today. Many medical groups, including the American Medical Association and American Red Cross have voted against the FDA’s lifetime ban calling it medically and scientifically unwarranted.

Based on research from the Williams Institute, if the FDA lifted the ban completely, there would be 4,200,500 men who would eligible to donate blood.

UPDATE: In December 2014, the FDA announced that it would lift the lifetime ban, but continue to block on donations by men who have had sex with other men in the last 12 months. LGBT rights groups have called this a disappointing baby step that continues to treat gay men differently than heterosexuals.