San Jose State University Bans Blood Donation Discrimination

"I am suspending all blood drives at San José State University on the grounds that the U.S. Federal Drug Administration’s lifetime blood donor deferral affecting gay men violates our non-discrimination policy... which says "discrimination of any kind, including … sexual orientation is an affront to the entire university community and is strictly prohibited." I am troubled the FDA has not...made progress with additional research, nor disclosed if and/or when ]they] will vote again on the deferral for men who have sex with other men. Our purpose is to respect our policy of non-discrimination and the climate that the policy is intended to create on our campus... Lacking further action by the FDA, we are guided by the clear mandates of our non-discrimination policy. Our hope is that the FDA will revisit its deferral policy in a timely manner and we may soon be able to hold blood drives on this campus again." Don W. Kassing, President, San José State University, January 29, 2008