Supporting the LGBTQIA+ Community

ImpactLife values Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion among its employees, volunteers, and donor base.

As the blood provider for more than 120 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, ImpactLife serves a diverse population that encompasses a wide range of races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientation, religions, ages, and abilities. By valuing diversity in our staff, volunteer and donor base, we are better able to serve the diverse communities of our service region.

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SHOWING OUR PRIDE

In my personal life, I serve as the vice-president for the board of DeLaCerda House, whose mission is to provide housing, advocacy services and progressive case management for persons with HIV/AIDS. I volunteer at as many Pride events as I can. In 2019, I drove my friend’s beautiful 1966 Chrysler 300 convertible in the Pride Parade (pictured) in Davenport, Iowa. I am proud to hold a position professionally with national recognition that allows me to advocate for this important change.
Kirby (left) and I had a great time volunteering and participating in the first ever Pride 5K for The Project of the Quad Cities. I was contacted early on to help consult on their inaugural race and then recruited Kirby to advise on their race route logistics. Day of, we helped with course set up and tear down. It was an awesome event, and we are looking forward to next year’s Pride 5K! - Emily
I am a strong ally for the LGBTQ community. This is at the first ever Paxton Pride parade before the pandemic. Teri (center) pictured with friends Michelle (left) and Nancy (right).
My family at St. Charles Pride June 2022. - Lindsay (right)

Donor Eligibility Criteria

Blood providers are often asked about the donor eligibility criteria for men who have had sexual contact with other men. While all donor eligibility criteria are set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), blood centers have opportunity to provide input that may help shape future changes to U.S. FDA policy. We have joined other blood centers across the country to actively work with U.S. FDA to update the existing deferral for men who have had sexual contact with other men during the 90 days prior to their desired date of donation. For a comprehensive overview, see ImpactLife Responds to Calls for Change to Donor Eligibility Criteria. To review frequently asked eligibility questions, click here.

Call to Action

While U.S. Senators and Representatives do not have a role in setting policy for U.S. FDA, members of Congress can be highly influential in terms of keeping issues of importance to their constituents before the FDA. We urge all donors who wish to see a change in the deferral criteria to voice their opinion to their elected representatives in Congress. We have provided a sample message below.

Find my Senators & Representatives See ImpactLife Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Initiative

sample message

Dear Senator ______ or Congressman / Congresswoman ________:

I am writing to urge a change in policy of the United States Food and Drug Administration concerning eligibility for blood donation by men who have had sexual contact with other men. Currently, the FDA bans men who have had sex with men (MSM) from donating unless they have been abstinent for at least three months. The deferral criteria for MSM is based on questionable science and perpetuates a stigma against gay and bisexual men, while limiting the already scarce U.S. blood supply.

I want to ask that the FDA reevaluate this outdated and discriminatory blood donation policy, and instead implement a policy that is based on individual behavior and factors for risk. It should be the goal of the FDA to maintain the safety of the blood supply while permitting blood donation by gay and bisexual men who are willing to donate and can safely do so based on their individual risk factors.

Sincerely,

Constituent name
Constituent address

blood industry MSM Information

Government of Canada United Kingdom Department of Health and Social Care Examining FDA’s policies on blood donations from gay and bisexual men

frequently asked eligibility questions

Scroll down to review frequently asked eligibility questions from the LGBQTIA+ community. See additional donor criteria here.

FAQs

What is the MSM Deferral, and why does ImpactLife enforce this guideline?

ImpactLife is regulated and audited by numerous organizations and governing bodies to ensure the safety of the blood and blood products we provide. One of those organizations is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which regulates all blood centers in the United States.

The FDA guidance “Revised Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Blood and Blood Products” released in April 2020 states that men who had sex with men (MSM) will be deferred for three (3) months from the date of last sexual encounter.

As with all U.S. blood providers, ImpactLife is required to follow donor eligibility criteria that are set by the FDA. At the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s, the FDA enacted a lifetime deferral on MSM, which remained in place until 2015, when the deferral period was changed to one year.
Does ImpactLife support the FDA’s policy change regarding men who have sex with men?

Yes, ImpactLife supports the change and has implemented the most recent FDA guidance concerning MSM. The changes are based on data from new studies showing the change can safely expand the nation’s blood supply. ImpactLife remains committed to additional research studies that can help guide future donor eligibility policies that are based on individual risk assessment.

Three of the nation’s largest blood centers – Vitalant, OneBlood, and the American Red Cross – are conducting a pilot study funded by FDA that could lead to a significant change to blood donor eligibility for MSM.

The research is called the ADVANCE Study: Assessing Donor Variability And New Concepts in Donor Eligibility. For information and updates, see www.advancestudy.org.
Did the FDA recently change its policy regarding men who have sex with men (MSM)?

Yes. On April 2, 2020 the FDA announced changes to its donor eligibility policy titled: “Revised Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Blood and Blood Products.” The policy change shortens the deferral criteria for MSM from 12 months to three months. ImpactLife has implemented this change.
Can I donate if I was deferred under the previous 12-month deferral policy for MSM?

People who were deferred under the previous 12-month deferral policy for MSM and who may now meet the new 3- month MSM deferral policy, must contact ImpactLife to have their donor profile updated in our computer system. If the person’s donor profile is not updated accordingly, the person will remain deferred. First time donors do not have to reach out. Please note, all donors are required to answer a series of questions on the FDA’s Donor History Questionnaire (DHQ) before donating. Depending on the answers, there may be other circumstances that can cause a person to be deferred.
I am a man who has had sex with another man in the past three months. Do I have to abstain from having sex with men for three months before donating blood?

Yes. The FDA revised guidance states, “Defer for 3 months from the most recent sexual contact, a man who has had sex with another man during the past 3 months." Please note, all donors are required to answer a series of questions on the Donor History Questionnaire (DHQ) before donating. All potential donors must meet all applicable donor criteria in order to give blood
I am a man who is in a monogamous MSM relationship. Am I allowed to donate if I have had sex with a man in the last three months?

No. The FDA revised guidance states, “Defer for 3 months from the most recent sexual contact, a man who has had sex with another man during the past 3 months." All U.S. blood collection organizations must follow this federal requirement. Please note, all potential donors must meet all applicable donor criteria in order to give blood.
I am a transgender individual. Am I allowed to donate?

There is no deferral associated with being transgender, and your eligibility will be based upon the criteria associated with your self-identified, self-reported gender. The latest FDA revised guidance states, “In the context of the donor history questionnaire, FDA recommends that male or female gender be taken to be self-identified and self-reported.” Although there is no deferral associated with being transgender, you may be deferred for other reasons. For instance, if you identify as male and have had sex with men in the last three months, you will be deferred from donating per the MSM guidelines outlined above and you must meet all other eligibility guidelines to donate blood. Please note, all potential donors must meet all applicable donor criteria in order to give blood
I do not identify as male or female. Will this impact my ability to donate?

While being non-binary is not cause for a deferral, it is important to note that the regulated software we use to maintain our donor records system does not feature a gender non-binary option at this time. ImpactLife continues to work our software provider to update our system so that we can accept non-binary donors.
Are there other donor eligibility criteria I will need to meet to donate?

Yes. To help ensure donor safety and safety of the blood supply, the FDA requires that all potential blood donors answer a series of questions on the Donor History Questionnaire (DHQ) prior to donation. Click here for Information on Donor Eligibility.
What can I do to urge FDA to change the MSM Deferral?

We urge everyone who would like to see a change in the deferral criteria to voice their opinion to their elected representatives in Congress. While U.S. Senators and Representatives do not have a role in setting policy for FDA, members of Congress can be highly influential in terms of keeping issues of importance to their constituents before the FDA. See the "Call to Action" section on Supporting LGBTQIA+ Communities page.