However, according to the organization, doctors are now being forced to decide which patients receive blood transfusions and who is forced to wait due to the shortage. 'We believe blood donation eligibility should not be determined by methods that are based upon sexual orientation and we’re committed to achieving this goal,' the American Red Cross said in a statement to ABC News. The America Red Cross said that there is no clear data that would suggest that changing this blood donation policy would significantly increase the number of blood donations, but the organization says it does not intend to discriminate against the LGBTQ community. This is the first time INOVA has had a mobile blood drive since the rise of COVID-19 cases in the D.C. A man squeezes a ball as he donates blood in an INOVA Hospitals Bloodmobile in Washington, D.C., July 21, 2020.
