FDA drops restrictions on gay, bisexual men donating blood

(Silver Spring, MD)  --  The FDA will no longer restrict blood donations based on someone's sexual orientation.  

Gay and bisexual men were first banned from donating blood by the FDA during the 1980s HIV-AIDs crisis.  

Advocates have long fought for the change, saying the HIV epidemic has long since changed.  

The FDA will now take an "individual risk-based" approach to reducing the risk of HIV infections through blood donations.  

The risk assessment will be the same for everyone who wants to donate regardless of their sexual orientation.