Six years ago Kris Banks tried to give back to the community by donating blood. It was something he done before when he was in high school.
"I took off work and I went down to give blood," said Banks.
He was eventually turned away after he revealed his sexual orientation during the question and answer portion all blood donors undergo.
"It was humiliating," Banks recalls.
In 1983, the federal Food and Drug Administration imposed a lifetime ban on all men who had had sex with other men at any time since 1977. The ban prohibited gay men from donating blood.
Banks was just three-years-old when the ban went in place.
"This ban is just based on this 1980's hysteria about HIV and banning gay men doesn't do anything other than keep out a big pool of donors," said Banks.
Since then medical technology to detect the disease has grown more advanced.
"Right now, we've been able to, with our sophisticated level of testing, to decrease that window period from a month or more to about 11 days, which is a significant advance," said Medical Director Dr. Beth Hartwell with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center.
Blood donors must also answer a multitude of questions as part of the overall screening process. Also, all donated blood undergoes 14 different tests that check everything from hepatitis to HIV.
"The type of testing that we have now is so much more advanced than it was in 1983," said Dr. Hartwell.
Lawmakers are working to lift the ban, which could infuse new blood into the supply chain. Even so, the donation center must continue to follow FDA guidelines and turn away gay men until the ban is lifted or amended.
Banks contends that HIV/AIDS is not only an issue for the gay community.
"HIV affects people across any strata age, gender, race and sexual orientation. Everyone needs to be concerned about HIV," said Banks.
"I took off work and I went down to give blood," said Banks.
He was eventually turned away after he revealed his sexual orientation during the question and answer portion all blood donors undergo.
"It was humiliating," Banks recalls.
In 1983, the federal Food and Drug Administration imposed a lifetime ban on all men who had had sex with other men at any time since 1977. The ban prohibited gay men from donating blood.
Banks was just three-years-old when the ban went in place.
"This ban is just based on this 1980's hysteria about HIV and banning gay men doesn't do anything other than keep out a big pool of donors," said Banks.
Since then medical technology to detect the disease has grown more advanced.
"Right now, we've been able to, with our sophisticated level of testing, to decrease that window period from a month or more to about 11 days, which is a significant advance," said Medical Director Dr. Beth Hartwell with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center.
Blood donors must also answer a multitude of questions as part of the overall screening process. Also, all donated blood undergoes 14 different tests that check everything from hepatitis to HIV.
"The type of testing that we have now is so much more advanced than it was in 1983," said Dr. Hartwell.
Lawmakers are working to lift the ban, which could infuse new blood into the supply chain. Even so, the donation center must continue to follow FDA guidelines and turn away gay men until the ban is lifted or amended.
Banks contends that HIV/AIDS is not only an issue for the gay community.
"HIV affects people across any strata age, gender, race and sexual orientation. Everyone needs to be concerned about HIV," said Banks.
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