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Video Recording

Blood Center/Blood Hospital-Based Donor Center

AM25-SN-32-L - Inclusive Blood Donation Strategies for 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities: Rebuilding Trust and “Adding Your Sparkle to the Blood Supply”

Sunday, October 26, 2025
3:45 PM - 4:45 PM  PT
Room: SDCC 30CDE
CE: 1 CME (AMA Physician Credit) / 1 CE (Non-Physician Credit)

    Program Chair(s)

  • Sara Bakhtary, MD

    Medical Director of Transfusion Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.
    University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
    San Francisco, California

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

    Handouts

  • Kimberly A. Thomas, PhD (she/her/hers)

    Assistant Investigator, VRI; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Center
    Vitalant Research Institute
    Denver, Colorado

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

    • Speaker(s)

  • Graham Sher, O.C (he/him/his)

    CEO
    Canadian Blood Services
    Ottawa, Ontario

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

    Handouts

  • Jerry M. Dale, Jr. (they/them/theirs)

    Product Development Director - LGBTQ+ Engagement
    American Red Cross
    Casper, Wyoming

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

    Handouts
For decades, blood donation policies around the world excluded many individuals from 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, particularly Two-Spirit individuals, gay, bisexual, queer men, and some trans people. These exclusions were based on outdated eligibility criteria that contributed to long-standing mistrust. In recent years, jurisdictions across North America and globally have begun transitioning to more inclusive, behavior-based screening approaches. While these policy reforms represent important progress, they are not sufficient on their own to address the historical harm or rebuild trust with communities that were previously excluded. Meaningful engagement and culturally responsive recruitment strategies are essential to encourage newly eligible donors to participate.

This session will explore ongoing efforts to rebuild relationships with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities through community-informed donor engagement and recruitment initiatives. Drawing on the experiences of two large national blood operators in the United States and Canada, the session will highlight:

• Approaches to trust-building and relationship repair with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities
• The co-development, delivery, and reception of a historic public apology in Canada
• Community-led donor recruitment campaigns and their impact
• Lessons learned from engaging previously excluded donors

Aligned with AABB’s RISE values of Respect, Inclusion, Support, and Engagement, this session offers practical insights for blood operators seeking to foster inclusion in donor engagement. It will be particularly relevant to organizations aiming to build meaningful, lasting relationships with 2SLGBTQIA+ populations in the context of evolving eligibility criteria.

Learning Objectives:

  • Emphasize the importance of rebuilding trust and fostering meaningful engagement with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities as a critical foundation for implementing inclusive eligibility criteria in the United States and Canada.
  • Present actionable strategies for applying AABB’s RISE values of Respect, Inclusion, Support, and Engagement, within donor engagement practices, including the co-development and delivery of a historic public apology in Canada.
  • Share and interpret outcomes from community-led initiatives focused on relationship-building and co-developing recruitment strategies for newly eligible 2SLGBTQIA+ donors