U.S Senators urge overhaul of gay donor restrictions amid blood shortage

Currently, men who have sex with men must remain celibate for a year before they are permitted to donate blood.

A group of senators are calling on the federal government to lift policies restricting gay and bisexual men from giving blood amid a nationwide donation shortage. Currently, men who have sex with men must remain celibate for a year before they are permitted to donate.

The 15 senators sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday urging authorities to «shift away from antiquated and stigmatising donation policies» to address a need for blood donations during the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, NBC News reports.