That means sexually active gay men who are married or in a monogamous relationship are still prohibited from donating. There were reports on social media, and via a city official on MSNBC, that at least one local blood center in Orlando, OneBlood, is temporarily lifting the ban on gay men donating blood. Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police headquarters during the investigation of a shooting at a gay nightclub in the city. WASHINGTON -- Local officials in Orlando are urging people to donate blood in response to the mass shooting at a gay club early Sunday that left at least 50 dead and another 53 injured. The FDA's policy dates back to 1985, near the start of the AIDS epidemic, and it originally banned all gay and bisexual men from donating blood.

Source: Huffington Post June 12, 2016 16:54 UTC