News Release
For Immediate Release: June 11, 2010
Contact: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078
HHS Committee Makes Right Decision in Recommending Not Lifting Ban on Male Homosexual Blood Donors
(Harrisburg) – Today the Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability voted 6-9 not to recommend lifting the lifetime ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide pro-family group applauds this news.
“Homosexual activists are intent on trying to place a stamp of normalcy on their lifestyle even if it may place the nation’s entire blood supply in danger. Leaving the ban in place will assure our blood supply remains safe,” noted Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.
Men who have sex with men are the group most likely to be HIV positive. A report released by the CDC on March 17, 2010 found that the rate of new HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men is more than 44 times that of other men and more than 40 times that of women.
The range was 522-989 cases of new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 MSM vs. 12 per 100,000 other men and 13 per 100,000 women.
The rate of primary and secondary syphilis among MSM is more than 46 times that of other men and more than 71 times that of women, the analysis says. The range was 91-173 cases per 100,000 MSM vs. 2 per 100,000 other men and 1 per 100,000 women.
Click here to read the current FDA policy concerning men who have sex with men and the danger of allowing them to donate blood.
“The decision today should also be noted by those who are behind the effort to remove the ban on homosexuals in the military. To allow men who have sex with men to serve in the military will place our troops at risk through possible exposure to the HIV virus in a field hospital setting. Every effort should be taken to protect our troops and continuing the ban on homosexuals in the military will help achieve that goal,” Gramley remarked.
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