CLEVELAND — Prior to Aug. 2023, sexually active gay and bisexual men could not donate blood to the American Red Cross due to rules set in place by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What You Need To Know

  • For decades, sexually active gay and bisexual men could not donate blood due to an FDA restriction which has now been lifted

  • Ohioan and former American Red Cross employee Mark Fleischer was unable to donate dbecause of his sexuality until now

  • In early January, Fleischer donated blood for the first time in decades, calling it a full circle moment

Now, the FDA has dropped those restrictions, instead implementing a new blood donation risk assessment tool that is the same for all donors, regardless of sexual orientation. The change has allowed more members of the LGBTQIA+ community, like Mark Fleischer, to donate blood and help save lives.

Fletcher said he wears a lot of hats. He is a beekeeper, works at the Willoughby Senior Center, and is an advocate for those in need.

In the past, Fleischer worked with the American Red Cross as a blood drive coordinator, where his work affected nearly 200,000 people in northeast Ohio.

His advocacy and work came full circle in early January when he could finally donate his blood for the first time in decades during a blood drive at the Willoughby Senior Center.

“It’s exciting, it’s emotional, it’s almost like another small step for victory. We are always fighting for equal rights for everything,” Fleischer said. “It’s another way to say ‘Hey, we are just like everyone else. We can also be active blood donors and we can be a volunteer in our community to do this!’”

Fleischer is now encouraging other members of the LGBTQ+ community to consider blood donation.

“This is a long time coming,” he said. “I want to encourage people out there whether you are gay or not, consider being a blood donor because it is just a few minutes of rolling up your sleeve.”