As we grow up, we often hear that "we should never judge a book by its cover" and "it's the inside that counts, as we are all the same and equal" on the inside" however, there is a federal policy that states otherwise. The federal policy, implemented in 1977 and officially adopted in 1983, bans blood donations from men who have ever had sexual contact with other men. This means that gay men are not allowed to donate blood. Supporters of the ban say studies show that those who engage in high-risk sexual behavior put others in danger when they donate blood. They also say that many sexually or blood-transmitted diseases are still commonly found in homosexual communities. However, not all homosexual males engage in risky sexual behavior and, thanks to technological progress, we are able to effectively detect any harmful infections and diseases found in the blood. The US Food and Drug Administration should lift the ban on homosexual males donating blood. The blood ban was first adopted in the early 1980s because many people were inadvertently infected with HIV and AIDS through blood transfusions. Blood agencies have faced increasing pressure from those infected and their families to impose and maintain the ban preventing homosexuals from donating blood in order to stop the spread of infections. Supporters of this policy believe the ban should remain in place. One premise for their conclusion is the belief that gay men engage in high-risk sexual behaviors that endanger others when they donate blood. According to Rachel Lakes' analysis of the MSM blood donation ban: (In)equality, gay rights and discrimination under the Charter), high-risk sexual behavior is defined as having unprotected sex without consequences ...middle of the paper... .ge faced in the United States. 21 countries have lifted the ban on MSM blood donations, yet the US FDA still states that gay men are not allowed to donate blood because they engage in high-risk sexual behaviors that put others in danger, and that many sexual intercourse/blood-borne diseases blood are still commonly found in homosexual communities. However, their argument is made up of outdated and basic premises that only demonstrate that their conclusion is invalid. Not all homosexual males engage in risky sexual behavior and, thanks to technological progress, we are able to effectively identify any harmful infections and diseases found in the blood. Allowing them to donate blood will help millions of people, save lives and solve blood shortages. People have sexual orientations, not their blood. The US Food and Drug Administration should lift the ban on homosexual males donating blood.