Orlando Blood Bank Is NOT Lifting Ban On Gay Blood In Wake Of Nightclub Massacre

Reports began circulating that OneBlood was accepting blood from gay men.
From: NewNowNest

In the wake of the attack on an gay nightclub that killed 50 and wounded dozens more, the call for blood donation has gone out in Orlando.

Sunday morning reports began circulating that one local blood bank announced it was accepting blood from all healthy donors—including gay men.

“We are in crisis need for all donors, and will be accepting all donors” — crucially, including gay men,” a card reportedly from OneBlood read.

That’s in contrast to longstanding FDA banning gay men from blood donations if they’ve had sex in the 12 months. (Those guidelines were only updated in December—previously men who had sex with men faced a lifetime ban.)

This is the line outside of an Orlando blood bank #LoveWins pic.twitter.com/FNYnaXXJFU

— Zak Houara (@Daftzak) June 12, 2016

But within the past 20 minutes, OneBlood underscored that FDA standards were still being followed.

All FDA guidelines remain in effect for blood donation. There are false reports circulating that FDA rules were being lifted. Not true.

— OneBlood (@my1blood) June 12, 2016

Whether there was misinformation being circulated or staffers decided to ignore the ban without authority is not clear.

While the ban is still outdated and dangerous, we are heartened that hundreds of residents have come out to donate blood.