Out actor Alan Cumming stars in a
hilarious PSA mocking an FDA policy prohibiting sexually active gay
and bisexual men from donating blood.
A coalition of groups, including GLAAD
and Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), are behind the #CelibacyChallenge
campaign, which calls on the FDA to implement a blood donation system
that screens all donors based on risk for HIV transmission,
regardless of sexual orientation.
The FDA currently prohibits men who
have sex with men from donating blood unless they have been celibate
for one year.
Cumming presents himself as head of the
Department of Sexual Abstinence in the nearly 2-minute video, where
he challenges gay and bisexual men to remain celibate for a year to
save lives.
“Introducing the Celibacy Challenge,”
Cumming's character boldly declares. “So, let's get to it. Let's
start saving some lives.”
Among the “authorized” activities
that will make the year “fly by” are pottery making, carpentry
and housecleaning – all of which are illustrated to great comedic
effect with sexual references.
“Or there's another option,” the
official says. “Sign our petition, then share this video to
pressure the FDA to change its questionnaire so donors are screened
based on their exposure to risk and not their sexual orientation.”
(The video is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
Click here to sign
the petition.