Back when Kody Kinsley was in high school, he was so dedicated to boosting the US blood supply that he helped run blood drives. But Monday will be the first time as an adult that Kinsley — now the secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services — will actually be allowed to donate blood. “I’m excited that I’ll get to play my small part,” Kinsley told CNN. Kinsley is gay.
“Now fast forward seven years later to have everybody answer the same set of questions to determine eligibility to donate blood is really a huge step in the right direction.” New York Blood Center said it would welcome all eligible donors using the new risk assessment on September 18. The organization said that “for decades” it has “strongly” advocated for scientifically based changes to the FDA policy about men who have sex with men.