Members of the LGBTQ+ community have long been an important part of the American Red Cross mission, and we celebrate and honor our LGBTQ+ blood donors, volunteers, partners and employees during LGBTQ+ History Month, including the trailblazers who have supported recent changes in blood donor eligibility.
Historic community contributions:
Since the FDA made blood donation more inclusive in 2023, allowing more people to donate blood, thousands of individuals, groups and organizations have made history by donating blood, hosting blood drives and volunteering to help hospital patients in need of lifesaving transfusions, in a way they have never been able to before.
In the last two years, the LGBTQ+ community has partnered with the Red Cross to host approximately 125 blood drives that have resulted in more than 3,000 blood donations for patients, with more than a third of donations coming from first time donors. This support shows that blood donations from LGBTQ+ individuals and groups are an important and growing part of ensuring a stable blood supply.
One such group is the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., who hosted their very first Red Cross blood drive during LGBTQ+ History Month in 2024, bringing in nearly 30 donations, where more than half of the donors were giving for the first time. This October the chorus is excited to host their second blood drive, alongside other LGBTQ+ organizations hosting drives during LGBTQ+ History Month, including Pomona Valley Pride Center in California, Pride Lafayette in Indiana, Greater Seattle Business Association in Washington state, the LGBT Life Center in Virginia, and others.
Historic change:
The Red Cross was proud to be part of LGBTQ+ history as the first major blood bank in the nation to implement updated FDA guidelines that eliminated blood donation policies based on sexual orientation, allowing more healthy people to safely donate blood. The Red Cross was also proud to be a leading contributor in the ADVANCE Study which helped lead to these updated FDA guidelines that have made the blood donation process more inclusive than ever before. The ADVANCE Study could not have been possible without the thousands of LGBTQ+ individuals who registered as participants to support these important advancements in blood donation eligibility.
Working together to strengthen community health:
Together, we have the power to strengthen community health and help save lives. The Red Cross is thankful to these individuals who took action in the past, and continue to take action, to positively influence historic change resulting in more people being able to safely help hospital patients through the gift of blood donation.
There is a place for everyone in the mission of the Red Cross. Learn more about how you can join this effort at redcross.org or 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). You can find blood donation information specific to the LGBTQ+ community and stories of some of the people now engaging in our blood services mission at RedCrossBlood.org/LGBTQ.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
