A new study taking place in Orlando and Miami could help overturn a decades-long ban on gay and bisexual men who want to donate blood. 

Orlando has been selected for a groundbreaking ADVANCE study to help overturn the decades-long ban on gay/bi men donating blood!🩸 We still need another 150 participants to join our effort and be part of history! Book an appt at @lgbtcenterorl below! 🏳️‍🌈https://t.co/sLRcuy318l https://t.co/8hjmrbjWBV pic.twitter.com/VuQg6298h7

— Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) September 8, 2021

Under the current FDA rule that has been in place since the AIDS epidemic, MSM or men who have sex with men, must wait three months after sex before giving blood.

The ADVANCE study is seeking to replace this rule with a simple risk assessment questionnaire which would instantly allow more LGBTQ people to be blood donors.

Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith says so far about 100 men have signed up to participate in the study in Central Florida, but researchers are looking to enroll 150 more participants.  

“And you hear about an opportunity like this and you just kind of keep scrolling. Or you get excited and you like it, but we need people to do more than just like it on social media. We need gay and bi men between the ages of 18 and 39 in Orlando to enroll at advancestudy.org and book an appointment so they can be a part of this historic effort too.”

Guillermo Smith says expanding the blood donor bank becomes crucial during and after crisis events like the Pulse shooting when there are blood shortages.

“And that’s why I talk about what happened after Pulse. Because there were so many gay and bi men who wanted to give blood to save a life of someone who was clinging to life in a hospital here in Orlando after the terrible shooting that were turned away. They were standing in line and they wanted to do the right thing. They wanted to save a life.”

Participants are paid at least 85 dollars to complete two quick appointments and a simple blood draw at the LGBT + Center in Orlando.

To find out more or enroll, click on this link.