Jacob Dolins wants all people to be able to donate blood, regardless of sexuality.
The 19-year-old UF biology and nutritional sciences freshman is organizing Pride Awareness Month’s first Gay Blood Drive on Thursday. UF students can donate on behalf of gay and bisexual men from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of Century Tower.
The Food and Drug Administration bans men who have had sexual relations with other men in the past year from donating, said Gary Kirkland, the media relations coordinator for LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. The FDA made an indefinite deferral policy for their donations in 1983 to prevent HIV from being transferred.
The group expects to collect about 100 donations, Dolins said. After the blood is collected, Pride Student Union will double the number donated to show how much they could have collected if gay and bisexual men could donate.
He said the FDA should abolish the policy.
“Any individual who knows their disease status is negative up to the time they donate should be allowed to donate regardless of their sexual preference,” Dolins said. “AIDS is a disease that anyone can get, so sexuality shouldn’t matter.”
Melanie Espaillat, a UF exploratory freshman, said she is participating in the Gay Blood Drive because she believes it will educate students about the ban.
“I think this event will help UF become more of an inclusive environment,” the 18-year-old said.
