Man Prevented From Giving Blood Because He Looks Gay 

An Indiana man said he was denied the opportunity to donate blood because he looks gay.

Aaron Pace, 22, of Gary, Ind., said he went to Bio-Blood Components Inc., which pays for both blood and plasma donations. During the screening process, he was told he could not donate blood because he "appears to be a homosexual," according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

“I was humiliated and embarrassed,” he said. “It’s not right that homeless people can give blood but homosexuals can’t. And I’m not even a homosexual.”

For nearly 30 years, men who have had sex with men at any point since 1977 have been barred from donating blood, due to a supposed risk of transmitting HIV. While all donated blood is now tested for HIV, syphilis, forms of hepatitis, and other diseases, the ban still stays in place.