Gay men often turned away from donating blood

“I’m kind of a person that believes in doing good for other people, so I’d say if you’ve never tried before and you’re eligible, consider doing it”, says Dorothy.

Even the two agencies that look after this country’s blood supply – Canadian Blood Services (CBS) and Hema Quebec – agree it’s time to reduce the deferral period for men who have sex with men – before eliminating the ban altogether. Many hit back at the authorities stating that living in the USA is like living in a country where it is legal to buy rifles and guns, but not legal for the gay and bisexuals to come forward to help the victims of the massacre. Inaugurating the function, Terumo Penpol chairman and director C Padmakumar said that only 20 per cent of the people in the society are willing to donate blood. “It has a life-changing role”, she said.

“Blood connects all of us whether we’re in MI, whether we’re in Orlando, or across the world”.

In order to prevent the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the FDA recommends that potential donors who have engaged in homosexual activity in the past 12 months, as well as females who have had sex during the past 12 months with a homosexual man, defer from donating blood for 12 months.

Orlando centers say they do have enough blood right now.

Last year, the policy was changed to ban gay and bisexual men who have had sex with another man in the past year.

The final determination will be made on the day of the donation at the blood drive or blood donation center. It’s an improvement from the lifetime ban that the FDA lifted in 2015. Emotional over what happened at Pulse nightclub Sunday, she faced her fear and gave blood. A group of friends who were going to donate blood for some accident victims admitted at the Medical College also took me along with them.

Amanda Eccles, senior marketing coordinator at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “These dedicated blood donors are very special to us, which is why this ceremony gives us the opportunity to say a real heartfelt thanks”. As many as 17 voluntary blood donors were honoured by M Patton.