Adam Joseph is among the first to donate blood under the FDA’s new inclusive screening process

By Alana Mauger

Adam Joseph holds a first-time blood donor sign after giving blood at Saint Luke Lutheran Church in Devon on Aug., 7, 2023. Photo by Konrad Jones/American Red Cross

Action News (6abc) meteorologist Adam Joseph gave blood for the first time, on the first day he was eligible, Monday morning, Aug. 7 – the day the American Red Cross implemented new FDA guidelines that eliminate broad, time-based deferrals based on sexual orientation. 

As a long-time advocate for this change, Adam described the milestone as “a day I have been waiting for my entire life.”

“Honestly, I don’t even feel like blood is coming out of me right now!” he joked in a Facebook video recorded from the donation table. “I can’t believe this day is here and that you guys are with me. Love you all!”

Action News reporter TaRhonda Thomas covered Adam’s historic donation, which he made at a Saint Luke Lutheran Church blood drive in Devon.

Watch: 6abc’s Adam Joseph Donates Blood For the First Time.

“It took over 40 years for someone like me to be able to give blood, and it took me 4 minutes and 33 seconds to give the gift of life,” he said following his donation.  

Adam described the day and donation process as “exhilarating,” and promised he would be back to donate again in 56 days, as soon as he is eligible.

“Not to be a weather pun, but I’m actually on cloud 9 that my blood is going somewhere and is going to help someone and save a life. That’s what we’re about here today is saving a life,” he said. “We’re allowing people who have never ever been able to give blood, maybe their entire adult life like myself, the opportunity to walk in the door and do this.”

Adam is among the new donors welcomed into the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross Monday.  Under the new FDA donor screening process, all donors answer the same eligibility questions regardless of gender or sexual orientation and are assessed for blood donation based on individual risk factors, not on sexual orientation. This change eliminates the FDA’s previous policy that deferred men who have sex with men from giving blood.

“The Red Cross celebrates this historic move as significant progress and remains committed to achieving an inclusive blood donation process that treats all potential donors with equality and respect while maintaining the safety of the blood supply,” explained Stefanie Arcangelo, interim CEO, Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region. “The Red Cross is committed to achieving further progress and will continue to provide data to the FDA in support of making blood donation even more inclusive.”

Years of data have demonstrated that this new eligibility screening process ensures a safe blood supply patients can feel confident in. For years, the Red Cross has worked to change the deferral policy concerning men who have sex with men – this work included decades of data collection and assessment to improve transfusion safety, ongoing advocacy to eliminate donor questions based on sexual orientation, and our recent role as a leading contributor in the FDA-funded ADVANCE Study.

The Red Cross welcomes everyone who wishes to be part of our humanitarian mission. You can learn more about these updates as part of our Eligibility FAQs. There is also information specific to the LGBTQ+ community on our LGBTQ+ Donors page.