Oklahomans For Equality Glad Ban On Gay, Bi-Sexual Blood Donations Lifted

The 30-year ban on gay and bi-sexual men donating blood has been lifted, but there's a catch.

The FDA announced Monday, before the blood can be donated, the person donating cannot have had sex in the past year.

For years, members of the gay community weren't allowed to donate blood for fear of transmitting HIV or aids.

Supporters with Oklahomans for Equality said the change is great progress, but said the stipulation doesn't make sense.

Toby Jenkins with Oklahomans for Equality said, "All the science is there - the laboratories, the medical community, all that we need to protect our blood supply has been there and it's been there for decades, so why do we continue to discriminate against individuals who are willing and ready to donate."

The FDA said, following the science of today, they've been able to limit the rate of HIV blood transmission rates to 1 in nearly 1.5 million.