“Because we want people to have protection against HIV, whether you’re in the LGBT community or out of the LGBT community because HIV affects everyone.”Ĭoney is an advocate with the NC AIDS Action Network, a nonprofit organization that promotes public health changes. “I think what surprised me about that is that a big part of my job is actually trying to get people on PrEP, promoting PrEP,” Coney said. He doesn’t meet the eligibility requirements because he takes a daily medication to prevent getting HIV called PrEP. When he emerges, he discovers he won’t be able to give blood on this day. As a gay man, he had to wait 90 days from his last sexual encounter to give blood at the Blood Connection.Īfter checking in, he enters a private room for a health screening and health questionnaire, which is guided by the FDA. The last time was when he was a junior in high school. He says the blood supply is so much safer than when the policy was put into place because of incredible advancements in testing.ĭe’Shea Coney, 27, hasn’t donated blood in 10 years. He wants to see an end to the 90-day deferral policy, which he says is discriminatory toward an entire group of people. Kinsley and health officials from eight states wrote to the FDA, saying that the current law is outdated and unnecessary. Advocate De’Shea Coney was unable to donate blood because he takes a daily medication to prevent getting HIV called PrEP.
A gay man has to wait 90 days from his last sexual encounter to give blood, which Kinsley says is an outdated, unnecessary and discriminatory policy.North Carolina DHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley and health officials from eight states wrote a letter to the FDA about easing restrictions on gay men donating blood.