Red Crossers break out the bubbles and put on the rainbows to celebrate the Portland Pride Parade.  It’s become a tradition for staff and volunteers alike and for the second year in a row, we were joined by Caesar the No Drama Llama and his handler Larry McCool.

Again, Caesar stole the show.

Caesar is always a true crowd pleaser and received countless hugs from the audience during the parade.  He is also very popular online with close to 20,000 followers on Instagram. Not bad for a llama.

The Red Cross theme this year was “Pride in Every Drop” which is our way of celebrating a more inclusive blood donation process.

Today, more people are able to donate blood with the American Red Cross through updated FDA guidelines that eliminate eligibility questions based on sexual orientation. All potential donors are asked the same questions related to donation eligibility and are assessed solely based on their own personal risk factors.

Years of data have demonstrated that the updated eligibility screening process ensures a safe blood supply and safety is still our number one priority. Learn more about our eligibility requirements at RedCrossBlood.org.

Jeff Lonergan has been a Red Cross employee for over 2 years and was one of the organizers of our Pride Parade. He is also a gay man.

“With the change in FDA regulations regarding the criteria for gay men I feel like I’m being seen as an individual.  With the change in guidelines, I hope more people who felt ostracized in the past will consider donating in the future,” he says.

We’ll wrap up this month with a Pride Drive July 25^th from 8am to 7pm at 3131 N Vancouver Ave, Portland OR. There will be food, shirts (while supplies last), and other giveaways for donors, too.

This event and others will help us keep up with the critical demand for blood during the summer months. Also, Caesar himself is hosting his own blood drive this December. Yes, llamas can sponsor blood drives.

If you’d like to sign up to donate, please do so today at RedCrossBlood.org.