Since 1994, the FDA has banned queer men from donating their tissues if they've had sex with another man in the past 5 years. In 2005 the policy was expanded to prevent the queer men from anonymous sperm donations. The policy was last upheld in 2007 and has remained in place ever since. 

Just like the queer blood ban, this policy is discriminatory and continues the stigma that HIV is a "gay disease". All donors have the potential to carry and transmit HIV, and with current advances in testing, blanket deferrals are not necessary. 

The policy prevents the donation of the following:

• Corneas
• Sclera
• Skin
• Heart Valves
• Dura Mater
• Bone
• Tendons
• Ligaments
• Cartilage
• Oocytes
• Sperm
• Sperm
• Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells

With thousands of individuals waiting for tissue donations, the FDA, patients, and healthcare providers cannot afford to be turning away healthy donors. These donations will absolutely save lives and improve the quality of life for recipients.

There are no exceptions for negative test results, safe sex, or monogamous relationships. The policy is a complete double standard, with no sexual activity-based deferment criteria for heterosexual donors and queer women.