Honda Introduces the DONATE Act in Wake of Orlando Shooting

Press Release

Following Sunday's tragedy in Orlando, Congressman Honda has introduced the Deliver for Our Nation At Times of Emergency Act, or DONATE Act. The first-of-its-kind legislation directs HHS Secretary Burwell to provide increased flexibility in blood donor screening while maintaining safety in the blood donor pool during times of national or local need. This bill would help prevent tragic ironies, like the one in Orlando, that prohibited gay and bisexual men from donating blood.

"It was a horrific irony that gay and bisexual men could not donate in a time of local need," said Congressman Honda. "This is not a problem of science; it's a problem of morality. It's time for the Secretary to use her authority, while respecting all safety controls, to give our local blood banks resources today so they can respond to the demand of tomorrow."

This bill helps increase flexibility in blood donor screening, while respecting the quality controls established by the FDA, and would help the FDA adapt to shortages and emergencies. Despite popular opinion, blood banks often face shortages. Just this February, the Red Cross issued an emergency for blood donations, due to the severe winter storms that cancelled 340 blood drives across 20 states, resulting in 10,000 donations left uncollected.

This legislation is supported by Equality California, BAYMEC, National Gay Blood Drive, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and California Assemblymember Evan Low.

"It should not have taken the tragedy in Orlando to spotlight the idiocy of FDA regulations that bar all gay and bisexual men from donating blood," said Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California. "Thousands turned out to help members of our own community, but were told that their blood donations were not needed, thanks to archaic and unnecessary rules that do not reflect modern detection methods of HIV. Congressman Honda's bill recognizes both modern science and a dire need. We call on Congress to pass it quickly."

"The National Gay Blood Drive proudly supports the DONATE Act. As long as there is a discriminatory policy in place that reduces the available pool of potential blood donors, then there should be a way to ensure that donors who are unnecessarily deferred can contribute to the blood supply in critical times of need," said Ryan James Yezak of the National Gay Blood Drive. "The safety of recipients is the number one priority. Blood collected under the DONATE Act would still follow FDA standards, ensuring the safety of recipients as is done under normal conditions."

"BAYMEC supports Congressman Honda's life-saving bill, the DONATE Act. In times of greatest need, when lives are hanging in the balance, it is imperative that we do not allow biased policies to get in the way of the LGBTQ+ community's ability to donate life-saving blood," said James Gonzales, President of BAYMEC.

"The tragedy in Orlando was immediately followed by the sad irony that gay and bisexual men were prohibited from donating blood to save their friends," said Assemblymember Evan Low. "The FDA cannot be silent again. Congressman Honda's bill is necessary to elevate the debate on how we handle blood shortages--and who gets to donate--while maintaining a safe blood supply."

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