Massachusetts senator John Kerry is leading the charge in demanding that
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration permit gay men to donate blood.

Kerry and New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand were joined by 16 other Democratic senators in urging FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg to modify current law barring all men who have had sex with men from donating blood.

Kerry also encouraged the FDA to review the donor screening questionnaire to ensure the safety of the blood supply.

The full letter is on the following page.