Blood and Tissue donation policies and practices related to transgender and nonbinary donors (and other non-cisgender identities) are included here in one place. There is not a specific policy that impacts trans people individually, but they are frequently subject to policies targeting one gender. 

Phase 3 Update

  • The current policy (released 5/11/23) should treat donors of all genders the same. However, we know that not every blood center is affirming, and not all have a 3rd gender marker for individuals who are gender non-conforming.
  • We have a lot of questions for tissue donation and how it impacts non-cis donors and are looking into that currently. 
  • We are currently working with blood centers and tissue banks to see what the national landscape looks like for trans and nonbinary blood & tissue donors. 
  • If you are ready to give blood, we recommend calling your local blood center to ask if they allow donors to self-select and self-identify their gender, and when they plan on implementing the updated policy from 5/11/23. 

Phase 3 Plan

  • The 2020 blood donation eligibility criteria included a line to ensure gender-affirming treatment for donors, but was removed with all gendered language in the 2023 update. There haven't been any similar recommendations in the tissue or organ policies. 
  • Gender-affirming practices vary for blood banks, and we are looking into how organ/tissue banks treat non-cis donors. 
  • We are currently drafting both a public and governmental brief with our research, evidence, and recommendations-
    • ​We will recommend that all organ, tissue, and blood donation guidances include language recommending that donors self-select and self-identify their gender(s) and these be respected and applied. 
Basics - Terminology - Deferment - History - National Implementation 
*Topics not in bold are currently being researched and prepared for release*

Trans & Nonbinary Blood Donation

Some of the following information was replaced or removed in the 5/11/2023 update, however, until that policy is implemented nationally (some estimates say the end of 2023) follow this: 
  • ​The 2020 FDA blood donation guidelines said that gender should be self-reported and self-identified, but this wasn't always the case. Plenty of blood donation facilities were not gender affirming and plenty did not have a 3rd gender marker
  • Pride and Plasma will be working with blood centers, gaining testimony from non-cis donors, and working to share affirming practices to increase the number of accessible blood banks. 

The Trans Umbrella & Terms

  • Gender: a social construct of masculinity, femininity, expectations, characteristics & more. Doesn't have to align with the sex someone is assigned at birth. 
  • Sex: medical assignment based on external genitalia at birth
  • Intersex: a group of terms for individuals born with both male & female chromosomes and organs
  • Pronouns: language that can signify a person's gender (he/ she/they/xir, & more!)
  • Transgender: the gender assigned at birth differs from someone's true gender & identity
  • Nonbinary: Someone's gender identity is other than male or female; could be both, neither, or something in between
  • Genderqueer: Someone's gender identity falls outside of male & female. 
  • Genderfluid: Someone's gender identity and/or expression varies over time.