Gay Senator furious after being turned away from giving blood despite meeting guidelines

State Sen. Brad Hoylman speaks during a press conference for the signing of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) into Law. | Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of GovernorAndrew M. Cuomo

Out gay New York State Senator Brad Hoylman just became one of the many gay and bi men rejected when trying to donate blood, even though he (and they) adhered to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recently changed guidelines allowing gay and bisexual men to donate blood after being sexually celibate for 3 months.

Hoylman, who is married with children, wrote in a May 12 letter to the Christopher Hillyer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Blood Center (NYBC), “I was rejected as a donor because NYBC continues to use the outdated screening guidelines of a waiting period of one year instead of three months for gay and bisexual men like me.”

Related: It’s time to end the ban on gay blood donation. People are dying & we can help.

He tells Hillyer that he’ll continue to fight for changes to the FDA’s blood donation guidance, stating, “This policy is rooted in homophobia and limits our nation’s supply of blood and plasma, which I know you agree is more crucial than ever for the research and treatment of COVID-19.”

Here’s Senator Hoylman’s letter:

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