Honoring Other Advocates
Meaningful change is never achieved by one person or one organization alone. The transition to more inclusive, individual risk-based blood donor eligibility was the result of decades of advocacy by countless individuals, LGBTQ+ organizations, researchers, healthcare professionals, elected officials, and blood centers. Blood is Blood is proud to recognize and honor some of the many advocates and initiatives whose efforts including ours, helped shape a more equitable future for blood donation.
The Blood Sisters
The San Diego Blood Sisters were one of the earliest and most influential grassroots organizations in the history of blood donation advocacy. Founded in 1983 during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the group emerged in response to the newly implemented federal policy prohibiting men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating blood. At a time when fear, misinformation, and stigma surrounded HIV/AIDS, the policy significantly reduced the available blood donor pool while many people living with AIDS required lifesaving blood transfusions. (Yale Library Exhibitions)
Recognizing both the growing blood shortage and the discrimination facing the LGBTQ+ community, a group of lesbian activists from the Women's Caucus of the San Diego Democratic Club—including Barbara Vick, Wendy Sue Biegeleisen, and Nicolette Ibarra—organized what became known as the San Diego Blood Sisters. Because lesbian women were still eligible to donate blood, they coordinated blood drives and encouraged hundreds of women to donate on behalf of those who were prohibited from doing so. Their first blood drive, held on July 16, 1983, attracted nearly 200 volunteers and resulted in approximately 130 blood donations, demonstrating remarkable solidarity during one of the most difficult periods in LGBTQ+ history. (Wikipedia)
The Blood Sisters' work extended far beyond blood donation. During a time when many people living with HIV/AIDS experienced stigma, isolation, and inadequate support, lesbian activists across the country became caregivers, hospital volunteers, advocates, and organizers. The Blood Sisters became a powerful symbol of compassion, demonstrating that community members would stand together even when government policies and widespread fear divided them. Their efforts inspired similar initiatives, strengthened LGBTQ+ activism, and highlighted the importance of community-led responses to public health challenges. (Teen Vogue)
Although the organization concluded its work in the early 1990s as HIV/AIDS treatment advanced and circumstances changed, the legacy of the Blood Sisters continues to resonate today. Their courage helped redefine what advocacy could look like—not only by speaking out against injustice, but by taking direct action to help save lives. Their story remains an enduring reminder that compassion, solidarity, and service can leave a lasting impact on both public health and LGBTQ+ history. (Wikipedia)
Blood is Blood is proud to honor the San Diego Blood Sisters for their pioneering role in blood donation advocacy. Their example demonstrated that meaningful change often begins with ordinary people willing to stand beside one another during extraordinary times. Their legacy continues to inspire organizations like Blood is Blood to promote education, encourage blood donation, and advocate for a more equitable and inclusive blood donation system for all eligible donors.
University of Vermont Student Activists
In 2005, student activists at the University of Vermont (UVM) brought national attention to the federal blood donation policy affecting men who have sex with men (MSM). Concerned that the policy conflicted with the university's commitment to nondiscrimination, a student filed a complaint with UVM's Office of Affirmative Action, arguing that the American Red Cross blood drives held on campus excluded otherwise healthy students based solely on the federal donor eligibility policy.
After reviewing the complaint, the Office of Affirmative Action recommended that the university discontinue hosting American Red Cross blood drives. However, the university administration declined to adopt the recommendation, citing concerns about maintaining the local blood supply and the broader public health importance of blood collection.
Although the blood drives continued, the issue sparked significant discussion on campus and became a catalyst for student-led advocacy. LGBTQ+ students and allies organized educational efforts, encouraged public dialogue, and raised awareness about the impact of the federal policy on gay and bisexual men who wished to donate blood.
In 2007, the University of Vermont Student Government Association considered a nonbinding resolution urging the university to stop hosting blood drives under the existing policy. The resolution narrowly failed by a 16–15 vote, highlighting the complexity of balancing public health needs with concerns about equality and nondiscrimination.
The advocacy efforts at the University of Vermont became one of many campus-based movements across the United States that helped keep the conversation about blood donation equality in the public eye. By encouraging dialogue, challenging existing policies, and educating fellow students, these activists contributed to the broader national movement that ultimately helped pave the way for more inclusive, individual risk-based donor eligibility policies.
Blood is Blood recognizes the students and advocates at the University of Vermont for helping elevate the conversation surrounding blood donation equality and demonstrating how grassroots advocacy on college campuses can contribute to meaningful national discussions and long-term policy change.
Iowa State University Greek Community
In 2007, several Greek organizations at Iowa State University drew national attention when they withdrew their participation from a campus blood drive in protest of the federal blood donation policy affecting men who have sex with men (MSM). The organizations argued that they could not support an event that excluded some of their members from donating based solely on sexual behavior under the policy in place at the time.
The decision generated widespread discussion on campus and beyond, with supporters viewing the action as a stand for equality and inclusion, while others expressed concern about its potential impact on the local blood supply. The controversy highlighted the growing tension between maintaining an adequate blood supply and addressing concerns about fairness and nondiscrimination.
Although opinions differed on the approach, the actions of the Iowa State Greek community helped bring additional public attention to the conversation surrounding blood donor eligibility. Their protest became one of several campus-based advocacy efforts across the country that encouraged discussion about whether advances in science and blood screening technologies warranted changes to longstanding federal policies.
Blood is Blood recognizes the students at Iowa State University for contributing to the national dialogue surrounding blood donation equality. Their willingness to raise awareness helped keep the issue in the public eye and demonstrated the important role that students and grassroots advocates can play in shaping conversations about public health, inclusion, and equitable donor eligibility.
San José State University
In 2008, San José State University became one of the first universities in the nation to suspend on-campus blood drives in response to the federal blood donation policy affecting men who have sex with men (MSM). University President Don Kassing announced the decision after determining that the policy conflicted with the university's commitment to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity.
The suspension generated national attention and sparked widespread discussion about balancing the need for a safe and reliable blood supply with concerns about fairness and inclusion. While many supported the university's stance as a stand for equal treatment, others expressed concern about the potential impact on local blood donations and patient care.
The decision highlighted growing frustration among colleges and universities regarding the federal donor eligibility policy and encouraged broader public dialogue about whether advances in blood screening technology and scientific evidence supported continued blanket restrictions on gay and bisexual men.
Although blood drives eventually returned to campus as policies evolved, San José State University's actions became an important milestone in the national conversation surrounding blood donation equality. The university's decision demonstrated how institutions of higher education could use their voices to advocate for inclusion while encouraging continued discussion about evidence-based donor eligibility.
Blood is Blood recognizes San José State University for helping elevate awareness of blood donation equality and contributing to the broader movement that ultimately supported the transition to individual, risk-based donor eligibility policies.
Sonoma State University
In 2008, Sonoma State University became another important voice in the national conversation surrounding blood donation equality. A faculty member introduced a resolution in the Faculty Senate calling for a ban on blood drives held on campus, arguing that the federal blood donation policy affecting men who have sex with men (MSM) conflicted with the university's commitment to nondiscrimination.
The Faculty Senate approved the resolution by a 21–13 vote, reflecting growing concern among educators about the fairness of the existing donor eligibility policy. Earlier that same month, however, the Associated Students Senate had adopted a different approach. While acknowledging that the federal policy was discriminatory toward many gay and bisexual men, student leaders also recognized the critical importance of maintaining the blood supply and voted to continue supporting the university's monthly blood drives.
The differing positions taken by the faculty and student governments highlighted a broader national debate: how to advocate for equality while continuing to meet the ongoing need for lifesaving blood donations. Rather than rejecting the importance of blood donation itself, both groups sought to draw attention to the need for more equitable, science-based donor eligibility policies.
Blood is Blood recognizes the students, faculty, and advocates at Sonoma State University for helping elevate the national conversation surrounding blood donation equality. Their efforts demonstrated that meaningful advocacy can take many forms while reinforcing the importance of balancing public health needs with fairness, inclusion, and evidence-based policy
Keene State College
In 2010, an LGBTQ+ student organization at Keene State College organized a protest in response to blood drives held on campus, arguing that the federal blood donation policy affecting men who have sex with men (MSM) excluded many otherwise healthy students from participating. The group contended that hosting blood drives under the existing policy conflicted with the college's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equal treatment.
The protest sought to raise awareness about the impact of the federal donor eligibility policy while encouraging dialogue about balancing the ongoing need for lifesaving blood donations with concerns about fairness and nondiscrimination. Like similar efforts at universities across the country, the demonstration contributed to a growing national conversation about whether advances in scientific testing and blood safety warranted changes to longstanding donor eligibility requirements.
Blood is Blood recognizes the student advocates at Keene State College for helping bring greater public attention to blood donation equality and contributing to the broader movement advocating for fair, science-based donor eligibility policies.
Queens College, City University of New York
In 2011, the Academic Senate of Queens College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, voted to recommend that all blood drives on campus be discontinued because the federal blood donation policy affecting men who have sex with men (MSM) conflicted with the college's principles of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity.
The recommendation reflected growing concern among faculty members that otherwise healthy students were being excluded from participating in campus blood drives based on the federal donor eligibility policy. At the same time, the action contributed to a broader national discussion about balancing the need for a safe and reliable blood supply with calls for more equitable, science-based donor eligibility requirements.
Although the Academic Senate's recommendation was advisory, it highlighted the increasing number of colleges and universities questioning the fairness of the existing policy and added momentum to the national conversation surrounding blood donation equality.
Blood is Blood recognizes the faculty and advocates at Queens College for contributing to the broader movement advocating for fair, evidence-based blood donor eligibility policies and helping elevate public awareness of the issue.
Bleeding for Equality – University of Michigan
In 2013, students at the University of Michigan launched the Bleeding for Equality initiative to raise awareness about the federal blood donation policy affecting men who have sex with men (MSM). Rather than discouraging blood donation, the campaign encouraged individuals who were ineligible to donate under the policy to recruit eligible friends, classmates, and allies to donate blood on their behalf.
The initiative sought to accomplish two important goals: to help strengthen the blood supply while demonstrating the significant number of additional donors who could contribute if federal donor eligibility policies were modernized. By pairing advocacy with action, the campaign emphasized that the movement was not about discouraging blood donation—it was about expanding opportunities for more eligible people to help save lives.
The campaign received attention across the University of Michigan community and helped spark conversations about fairness, science, and public health.
The Michigan Daily, the university's student newspaper, also published editorials supporting the modernization of the federal blood donation policy, adding another influential voice to the growing national discussion.
Blood is Blood recognizes the students behind Bleeding for Equality for their innovative approach to advocacy. By encouraging eligible donors to give blood while simultaneously raising awareness about donor eligibility restrictions, the initiative demonstrated that advocacy and blood donation can work hand in hand to strengthen both the blood supply and the movement toward more equitable, science-based donor policies.
Jordan Eagles
Jordan Eagles is an American artist and advocate whose work has helped raise public awareness about blood donation equality, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and the stigma surrounding blood and HIV. Beginning his advocacy efforts in 2015, Eagles used art as a platform to challenge longstanding misconceptions and encourage conversations about blood donor eligibility policies affecting gay and bisexual men.
Eagles is best known for creating Blood Mirror, a large-scale art installation that incorporates blood donated by LGBTQ+ individuals and allies. The project was designed to confront stigma surrounding blood donation and HIV while highlighting the exclusion many healthy gay and bisexual men faced under federal blood donation policies at the time. Through exhibitions, public programs, and media appearances, Blood Mirror helped bring the conversation about blood donation equality to audiences beyond traditional advocacy circles.
Following the Pulse nightclub tragedy in Orlando in 2016, Eagles' work gained increased national attention as discussions intensified regarding the inability of many gay and bisexual men to donate blood despite critical shortages. His art became a powerful symbol of inclusion, visibility, and the need for science-based donor eligibility policies.
Throughout his advocacy, Eagles collaborated with LGBTQ+ organizations, healthcare professionals, researchers, museums, and blood donation advocates to promote public education and dialogue surrounding blood donation policies. His work demonstrated how art can serve as a unique vehicle for social change by encouraging empathy, understanding, and informed discussion.
While advocacy for blood donation equality has taken many forms, Jordan Eagles helped broaden public awareness through creative expression.
Blood is Blood recognizes Jordan Eagles for his contributions to raising awareness about blood donation equality and helping advance conversations surrounding fair, science-based donor eligibility and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
The American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is one of the nation's largest humanitarian organizations, providing disaster relief, emergency assistance, lifesaving training, and collecting and distributing blood to hospitals across the United States. Every day, Red Cross blood donors help ensure that patients experiencing trauma, surgery, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and other medical emergencies have access to lifesaving blood products when they are needed most. For decades, the American Red Cross has worked to educate the public about the importance of blood donation, recruit new donors, and implement evolving U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) blood donor eligibility requirements while maintaining one of the safest blood supplies in the world. As scientific evidence and federal guidance have evolved, the Red Cross has updated its donor screening process to reflect current FDA policies, including the implementation of individual, risk-based donor eligibility in 2023.
In 2015, shortly after Blood is Blood was founded, Jordan James reached out to the American Red Cross of Western New York with a vision of creating a community blood drive that would unite the LGBTQ+ community, allies, and supporters around a shared mission of saving lives while raising awareness about the federal blood donation policy that restricted many gay and bisexual men from donating blood. The American Red Cross embraced the collaboration, and after months of planning, the inaugural Gay Alliance Blood Drive was held in July 2016, launching what would become the nation's longest-running LGBTQ+ Pride-related blood drive. In December 2021, Blood is Blood expanded the initiative in partnership with the American Red Cross by launching a second annual community blood drive, establishing a semiannual blood drive campaign to provide additional opportunities for lifesaving blood donations and community engagement. Then, in December 2023, the event was officially renamed the Pride Alliance Blood Drive, reflecting a more inclusive name that better represents today's LGBTQ+ community while honoring the drive's history.
Since 2016, the partnership between Blood is Blood and the American Red Cross has resulted in hundreds of blood donations, helping save an estimated 1,800 lives through the generosity of volunteer donors.
Beyond the blood drives themselves, the partnership has demonstrated the power of collaboration between a grassroots advocacy organization and one of the nation's leading humanitarian organizations. Together, Blood is Blood and the American Red Cross have encouraged thousands of people to learn about blood donation, inspired first-time donors to roll up their sleeves, strengthened community partnerships, and reinforced the message that every eligible donor has the opportunity to help save lives.
Blood is Blood is proud to recognize the American Red Cross for its longstanding commitment to patients, its dedication to maintaining a safe and reliable blood supply, and its willingness to partner with our organization for more than a decade.
Together, our organizations have shown that education, compassion, and community collaboration can strengthen the blood supply while helping build a more inclusive future for blood donation
Dr. Jack Turban
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Jack Turban, a Harvard physician and psychiatrist, became a prominent voice in the national conversation surrounding blood donor eligibility for men who have sex with men (MSM). After recovering from COVID-19, Dr. Turban wanted to donate his convalescent plasma to support research and help patients battling the virus. However, under the federal blood donation policy in place at the time, he was unable to donate because of his sexual history.
Dr. Turban publicly shared his experience in interviews with Vox and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, drawing national attention to the disconnect between the urgent need for COVID-19 plasma donations and the continued exclusion of many otherwise healthy gay and bisexual men from donating. His story highlighted how the policy affected not only routine blood donations but also the nation's response during a public health emergency.
The widespread attention generated by Dr. Turban's experience helped renew calls for reform. In response, 20 state Attorneys General sent a joint letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging federal officials to reevaluate and modernize the blood donor eligibility policy in light of current scientific evidence and the pressing need for blood and plasma donations during the pandemic.
Dr. Turban's advocacy became one of many influential voices that helped elevate the conversation surrounding blood donation equality during a critical moment in history.
Blood is Blood recognizes Dr. Jack Turban for helping bring national attention to the impact of the federal blood donation policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. His advocacy contributed to the growing momentum for more equitable, science-based donor eligibility policies and reinforced the importance of ensuring that every eligible person has the opportunity to help save lives.
Bláz Bush
Bláz Bush is a LGBTQ+ health advocate whose personal experiences with the former federal blood donation policy inspired his commitment to advancing equitable healthcare and more inclusive blood donor eligibility.
Growing up in a small rural town in Texas, Bláz watched classmates eagerly participate in school blood drives while he quietly wrestled with the stigma surrounding questions about men who have sex with men (MSM). As he began to understand his own identity, the policy left him feeling excluded from an act of service that many of his peers took for granted.
As an openly gay adult, he continued to encounter the impact of the policy. Although encouraged by others to conceal his sexual orientation so he could donate plasma,
Bláz refused to compromise his integrity. Instead, he transformed his frustration into advocacy.
His perspective deepened while working for the New York Blood Center, where he coordinated an HIV vaccine study. Although he found it painful to work for an organization that could not accept his own blood donation, the experience helped him better understand both the scientific and regulatory complexities surrounding blood safety while reinforcing his desire to help create meaningful change.
Later, while working at a university that hosted blood drives during Pride Month, Bláz became involved in advocacy efforts supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion in blood donation. While many community members remained ineligible to donate under the MSM policy, the events became opportunities for education, community dialogue, and petitioning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to modernize donor eligibility requirements.
In 2022, Bláz joined Stanford Medicine, where he learned about a groundbreaking research study conducted by the Stanford Blood Center evaluating universal, individual risk-based donor screening. He volunteered to participate in the study, contributing to research that helped inform the FDA's transition to individual, risk-based donor eligibility policies, announced in 2023.
Following the implementation of the new guidelines, Bláz was finally able to donate blood after years of exclusion. In September 2023, he successfully completed his first blood donation and learned that he is O-negative, the universal donor. For him, the experience represented far more than a blood donation—it marked a deeply personal moment of healing, inclusion, and justice after years of being unable to contribute in the way he had always hoped.
Blood is Blood is proud to recognize Bláz Bush for transforming his personal experiences into meaningful advocacy.
Today, Bláz serves as the Executive Director of the LGBTQ+ Health Program at Stanford Medicine, where he works to improve LGBTQ+ health equity, expand access to affirming healthcare, educate healthcare professionals, and reduce disparities affecting LGBTQ+ communities
National Gay Blood Drive
The National Gay Blood Drive was a coordinated advocacy campaign launched in 2014 to raise awareness about the federal blood donation policy affecting men who have sex with men (MSM). Organized as a single nationwide day of action, the campaign encouraged eligible allies to donate blood while drawing attention to the need for more equitable, science-based donor eligibility policies.
Held in 61 cities across the United States, the initiative combined blood donation with public education and helped spark conversations about blood donation equality during a period of growing national discussion. The campaign demonstrated the willingness of LGBTQ+ communities and their allies to support the nation's blood supply while advocating for policy reform.
While the National Gay Blood Drive was a significant national awareness campaign, it differed from ongoing community-based initiatives that continued year after year. It served as one of many advocacy efforts that contributed to the broader movement toward more inclusive blood donor eligibility policies.
Blood is Blood recognizes the National Gay Blood Drive as one of the many initiatives that helped keep the conversation surrounding blood donation equality in the public eye and contributed to the national dialogue on evidence-based donor eligibility.
Work in Progress: We're currently researching and documenting the individuals, organizations, and initiatives that helped advance LGBTQ+ blood donation equality, inclusion, and advocacy. As we continue verifying historical information and recognizing additional contributions, this page will grow to better reflect the many people and organizations whose efforts helped shape a more equitable future.
Help us preserve this history. If you have verified historical information, photographs, documents, or additional contributions related to blood donation equality and LGBTQ+ advocacy, please contact us. We welcome your additions, corrections, and stories as we continue documenting this important movement. Simply contact us here.
Thank you for helping us preserve and honor this important history.