Early on June 12th, a gunman opened fire in Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Fifty people were killed and 53 more injured. Hospitals and blood banks put out an urgent call for blood donations to help the injured victims of this hate crime.

But too many people are unable to answer this call because of homophobic blood donation guidelines. Gay and bisexual men who have had sex with men within the last 12 months are prohibited from donating blood.

In Florida, these men are watching as their friends and communities are in dire need of blood, and they are unable to help because of an outdated and homophobic regulation.

Sign the petition: Tell the FDA to lift the homophobic ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood.

The Food and Drug Administration originally implemented a lifetime donation ban on gay and bisexual men in 1983 when so little was known about HIV/AIDS. Over 30 years later we know so much more about prevention, treatment, and suppression of the virus.

There is no good reason to refuse life-saving blood from sexually active gay and bisexual men. This ban needlessly stigmatizes gay sex, and gay and bi men, and puts those in need blood transfusions in grave danger.

Sign the petition: Tell the FDA to end its harmful ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood.