This month marks two years since the American Red Cross became one of the first blood banks in the U.S. to implement updated FDA blood donation guidelines that eliminated questions based on sexual orientation, paving the way for more donors like Sam to a more inclusive blood donation process. 

On July 25, Sam, a transgender woman, donated blood for the first time at a Red Cross blood drive held at the Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center in Ferndale. It was the first time the Red Cross hosted a blood drive in partnership with a LGBTQ+ organization in Michigan. 

Sam decided to donate blood because she knows it’s a good thing to do. Before transitioning, Sam identified as a man who had sex with men, which made her ineligible to donate under the FDA’s previous blood donation eligibility. Despite wanting to donate previously, she feared being turned away. 

“I try to spread good wherever I can,” Sam said.  “We are all human and we
all need help. This is a good way to help people.”

A second memorable blood donation at Affirmations was made by Michelle, who announced she was giving blood for the first time as a transgender woman. Before transitioning, Michelle identified as a woman and a blood donor since the 1980s. “I like to do things that people need, and it just gives me a good feeling,” Michelle said.

"I feel more comfortable now that I am out of the closet in regard to donating blood. Prior to the Red Cross blood drive at Affirmations, the Red Cross never knew I was transgender. I just came in there as a woman giving blood. I never mentioned anything about being trans."

Under updated FDA blood donation guidelines that took effect in 2023, all potential donors see the same questions related to donation eligibility through a new standard donor history questionnaire all blood collection organizations in the U.S. use and to be assessed based on their own personal risk factors, not on sexual orientation. 

By Sydney Henry, regional communications manager