The US Food and Drug Administration has opened a door to a change in its blood donor policies, which currently prohibit donations from gay men for a year following their last sexual encounter.
In December, the administration overturned a 30-year ban on all blood donations from men who have sex with men, saying the change was based on science showing an indefinite ban was not necessary to prevent transmission of HIV. Now, the policies may go further.
Gay right advocates say the recommendations should move closer to individual risk assessments, which could, for example, look at whether the individual has been in a monogamous relationship. Their criticism towards the blood donating policies intensified in the wake of a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in June, which saw many gay men unable to donate blood even as blood banks put out calls for donors.
The FDA is currently accepting comments backed by scientific evidence on potential policies to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
Such suggestions "could include the feasibility of moving from the existing time-based deferrals related to risk behaviours to alternate deferral options, such as the use of individual risk assessments."
The agency said it would take the comments into account "as it continues to reevaluate and update blood donor deferral policies as new scientific information becomes available."
In a statement, Mike Quigley, vice chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, said he was "encouraged" by the FDA's announcement.
"The tragedy at Pulse nightclub in Orlando highlighted the discrimination gay and bisexual men face when attempting to donate blood to those in need," he said.
"Moving towards an individual risk assessment would provide for a fair, equitable, nondiscriminatory blood donation policy, one based in science that allows all healthy Americans to safely donate blood."
In Malta, gay men are not allowed to donate blood. The health ministry is considering a policy where gay men can donate blood if they have been sexually inactive for one year.