Standing on the Side of Science: Lifting the Anti-Gay Blood Donation Ban

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami will honor June's LGBTQ Pride month with a special worship service on Sunday, June 30th at 11:00 a.m. focusing on local and national efforts to end the FDA's outdated and discriminatory policy banning blood donations by gay men. The FDA currently indefinitely bans any man who has had sex with a man at any time since 1977 from donating blood. This regulation is based on outdated scientific data and inaccurately identifies sexual identity/orientation as high risk rather than specific behaviors. UU Miami Board Member Luigi Ferrer, program director at Prideline Youth Services, and congregation member David Traupman will lead the service featuring readings, songs, and messages that lift up the UU principles of "the inherent worth and dignity of every person" and "justice, equity, and compassion in human relations", as well as the congregation's commitment to speak out when the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people are at stake. Featured guest speakers include: Blake Lynch and Brett Donnelly, co-founders of Banned4Life, a national advocacy group based in Orlando working to raise awareness about the FDA policy and promote the importance of donating blood by encouraging eligible donors to donate blood in place of those who are Banned4Life; and representatives from OneBlood, South Florida's blood center that collects and provides blood to more than 200 hospitals and health care facilities and currently hosts blood drives on the congregation's campus. A coalition of additional South Florida GLBTQ organizations will meet after the service to explore ways to maximize efforts to advocate for changing the FDA policy. All community members are invited to attend!