In 1983, when the public's fear of AIDS far exceeded researchers' understanding of the disease -- not to mention society's commitment to equal rights for gay and bisexual men -- the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned blood donations from any man who has had sex with another man since 1977.
Now, a federal advisory committee recommends ending that ban and replacing it with a one-year "deferral period." That is, men could give blood as long has they've had no sex with other men in 12 months. The FDA should accept this recommendation as a first step toward further relaxing the restriction.
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