Writing

January 31, 2023

Spectrum News 1: Easing Blood Donor Restrictions: LGBTQIA+ community member reacts to proposed blood donor eligibility changes

The updated guidance doesn’t change donor deferral periods for sex workers. “I do think these protocols still discriminate against sex workers because not all people who exchange sex for money or drugs are necessarily at high risk of HIV because chances are they are using some sort of safer sex practices,” Elkins said. The deferral times will remain the same for those who are taking pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEp pills or injections to prevent getting HIV. According to the FDA, the use of PrEP may delay detection of HIV by licensed screening tests for blood donations. For the last 10 years, Elkins said he’s been traveling around the world, teaching people safer sex practices and HIV preventive measures. He also takes PrEP and thinks the updated guidance would have been a good opportunity to educate people about PrEP. “Instead of more or less stigmatizing people who are taking PrEP, which is a wonderful preventive measure for HIV, by telling them they can’t donate blood, we should be using this opportunity to educate people at higher risk of HIV,”  Elkins said… READ/WATCH HERE