Gay organ
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You can do that here. This behavioral-based screening approach ensures that organs from healthy individuals are not unnecessarily discarded, maximizing the availability of life-saving transplants.
Donation in the LGBTQIA+ Community
Donor registration is open to any one of any gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.
Everyone can register to be a donor!
Donor registration is open to any one of any gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.
Organ donation policy is regulated by the U.S. department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Every time a donor under the HOPE Act saves the life of a person on the waitlist, everyone else on the waitlist moves “up” even faster. Do you have specific questions? Race, gender, or sexual orientation of the donor or recipient is never considered in regards to matching.
I can't donate blood.
A person who is transgender or non-binary can register and become a donor regardless of whether or not they are having or have completed medical procedures.
Ready to register as a donor? As of now, the FDA, which oversees blood and tissue donation, has regulations in place which can limit what can be donated by gay men. Eligibility criteria focus on assessing medical conditions and potential risks of disease transmission, applying to all prospective donors.
Current guidelines, such as the 2020 PHS Guideline, recommend universal testing for HIV, HBV, and HCV in all living and deceased donors using highly accurate NAT.
If a potential donor has engaged in certain behaviors associated with an increased risk of infection, such as anal sex with a new or multiple partners in the past three months, a deferral period may apply. The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) sets policies for consistent screening and allocation based on medical factors like blood type, body size, and medical urgency, not sexual orientation.
Why Inclusive Policies Matter
Inclusive organ donation policies provide benefits to individuals and the broader healthcare system.
This means that conditions that may rule out donation today may not in the future.
Registering to be a donor is one way to let the people you love know your wishes after you are gone. A common misconception is that sexual orientation, particularly for gay men, prevents organ donation. These limitations are NOT the same for organ donation--gay men in the U.S.
have been both living and deceased organ donors, and the transplants they made possible have saved countless lives.
If I am living with HIV, can I be an organ donor?
Yes! If you want to help others through the gift of donation at the time of your death, register to be a donor and let the medical professionals determine what you can give to help others.
If you believe in donation, registering is important because it helps ensure that transplantable organs are not lost due to lack of authorization.
Can someone who is gay be an eye and tissue donor?
Tissue and eye donation policy is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
People of any age, faith, health status/history, language, country of origin or background are welcome to register. Now, with better medications and advancements in transplant, we are able to help both potential organ recipients AND potential organ donors who are also HCV+ or HIV+ to save the life of someone on the list who is also positive for the same treatable condition.
This was due to limited understanding of HIV and testing capabilities.
As scientific understanding and testing technologies advanced, these blanket bans evolved.