A coalition of organizations, including GLAAD and Gay Men鈥檚 Health Crisis (GMHC), today launch a new PSA and social media campaign starring Alan Cumming to raise awareness about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration鈥檚 (FDA鈥檚) blood donor deferral policy for men who have sex with men. Created by Saatchi & Saatchi NY and Bullitt, # urges the FDA to implement a blood donation system that screens all donors based on risk for HIV transmission, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
鈥淪tereotypes have no place in saving lives,鈥嬧 said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. 鈥淭he FDA鈥檚 proposed change still means that countless gay and bisexual men will be turned away from blood banks simply because of who they are. GLAAD is proud to stand alongside GMHC and Saatchi & Saatchi NY to shed light on this important issue.鈥
To call attention to the FDA鈥檚 blood donor deferral policy, GLAAD and GMHC鈥檚 campaign illustrates how unrealistic it is to ask someone to remain celibate for a year in order to donate blood by offering 鈥渁pproved alternatives鈥 to sex. Participants are asked to share the humorous video through social media using the hashtag #CelibacyChallenge and to sign a petition calling on the FDA to modify their policy. More info about the donor issue and pro bono campaign can be found on www.CelibacyChallenge.com.
鈥淪ince the early days of the epidemic, GMHC has witnessed first-hand how fear, stigma, and discrimination have fueled the spread of HIV,鈥 said Kelsey Louie, GMHC鈥檚 CEO. 鈥淭he FDA鈥檚 鈥榬evised鈥 policy continues to fan the flames of the outdated stereotype that HIV is only a 鈥榞ay disease.鈥 GHMC would like to thank Saatchi & Saatchi NY and GLAAD for joining and supporting the broad coalition of agencies that have been fighting to change U.S. blood donation policy for decades.鈥
Saatchi & Saatchi NY partnered on this pro bono project with Bullitt and the campaign鈥檚 centerpiece film was shot by Bullitt filmmaker Academy Award庐-winning director Ari Sandel. In 2007, Sandel won an Oscar庐 for his short film, 鈥淲est Bank Story.鈥 Most recently, Sandel directed the highly anticipated film The Duff for CBS films, being released this Friday, February 20.
鈥淐reating work that creates positive cultural change is something we鈥檙e very passionate about,鈥 said Jay Benjamin, Saatchi & Saatchi New York chief creative officer. 鈥淲e believe at Saatchi that nothing is impossible, and that certainly holds true about lifting an outdated 30-year-old ban.鈥
Todd Makurath, co-founder and CEO of Bullitt, added: 鈥淎ll of us at Bullitt believe very strongly in this cause, and we鈥檙e thrilled to be teaming up with these organizations and contributing Bullitt's talent for storytelling to make a difference with this issue.鈥