Minneapolis LGTBQ community hosts pride blood drive after years of barriers

Due to guidelines set forth by the FDA, members of the LGTBQ community were unable to donate blood.

These restrictions have been removed and today Children’s Minnesota’s PRIDE Employee Resource Group and Memorial Blood Centers (MBC) hosted a Pride Month blood drive.

Despite the constant need for blood, many people have been denied for years the opportunity to donate because of their sexual orientation.

There has always been a misconception that people associated with the LGTBQ community don't have clean blood.

Justin Nelson-Deering, who is co-chair of the Pride Employee Resource Group said that's simply not true.

"The testing and the rigor that we went through is due to the aids epidemic, but all blood is tested the same," Says Deering " So whether is me who identifies with LGBTQ community donating blood, or a colleague of mine who is female and heterosexual they're testing our blood for the exact same thing."

But times have changed and today marked a step in the right direction.

"It's huge and it's great for our population," Says Deering, "because we want to donate, we want to be able to help and participate without having to hide who we are."