The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially dropped restrictions that prohibit gay and bisexual men from donating blood. The ban was implemented in 1983 for men who have sex with men due to the AIDS epidemic.  

In today’s episode of the Briefing, we discover that since the early 80s, scientific advances and more testing has led to the ban on LGBT men and transwomen donating blood being lifted. We’re joined by Darian Aaron from GLAAD, a US LGBTQ advocacy organisations; and Thomas Buxereau from Australia's 'Let Us Give’ campaign.  

So what’s happening in Australia, why hasn’t the ban been lifted here?  

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