How new FDA rule allowing gay, bisexual men to give blood is making donation more inclusive

The FDA approved a new blood donation risk assessment that is the same for every donor regardless of how they identify, making donation more inclusive for LGBTQ donors.

For at least a decade, Chris Van Bibber had been prevented from donating blood.

The 35-year-old from Salt Lake City, Utah -- who is openly gay -- was restricted due to rules set in place by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that did not allow sexually active gay men from donating.

However, this past May, the FDA dropped all restrictions specific to gay and bisexual men donating blood, moving to a new blood donation risk assessment tool that is the same for every donor regardless of how they identify, which rolled out in August.

This meant that Van Bibber was able to make history as he donated blood at the American Red Cross Blood Donation Center in his home city.