Gay AMA President donates blood

WAUWATOSA, Wis.  (CBS 58) — American Medical Association President, Doctor Jesse Ehrenfeld, celebrated along with his husband on Thursday, Sept. 14 inside Versiti Blood Center as they donate blood as openly gay men.

The donations coming months after the FDA eased its guidelines on who can donate blood, and at a time when blood donations are at an all-time low.

“It’s been a long time coming to be able to have the opportunity to finally donate blood as a gay man,” said Ehrenfeld. “This is a moment to celebrate and certainly there will be more in the future.”

Since 1983, at the height of the HIV, and AIDS epidemic, the FDA had banned men who have sex with men from donating blood out of fear of contamination. A few near scientific findings have put to rest.

Ehrenfeld is not just a trailblazer in blood donations, but also in his professional life. He is the first openly gay man to serve as president of the American Medical Association.

He says moments like this are the first step in ending stigmas against the LGBTQ Community. 

“I know in spite of a lot of discriminatory policy that have held back LGBT people that things are possible, organizations and policy change like being able to donate blood,” said Ehrenfield.