Drive awareness of the ban by mounting a two-pronged attack: spark action against the discriminatory policy, and foster a robust scientific exchange of ideas that includes the one organization, and person, empowered to advance the policy.

Ultimately, the campaign was geared to put pressure on the one person at the FDA empowered to modify the policy, and to engage and embrace the community’s viewpoint. So while our campaign was built to reach many, the actual target was Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s division responsible for protecting the blood supply.

The fight will continue until every blood donor is treated equally.

Campaign:

-PSA, print ads, posters, BloodEquality.com, and robust social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)

-Our Artist In Residence: Jordan Eagles (BloodMirror.com) whose vision helped define the overall aesthetic

-Blood “Selfie” Tool allowing people to “become” the campaign

-World Blood Donor Day Art installations: Jordan’s Blood Illuminations on the High Line, and “Blood Dumpster” in Chelsea for NY Pride

-Political push: helped spark members of the U.S. Senate and Congress directly asking the FDA Commissioner to lift the ban

-21 men, 21 days from World AIDS Day - December 21– the anniversary of the FDA’s policy change

-The National Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham Alabama chose Blood Equality a 2017 featured project

Medical:

-The FDA reversed a lifetime ban, and opened up a public docket for ideas on the policy

-Medical Advisory Board meetings, attended by leaders in infectious disease, blood safety, LGBT issues, and policy – included the FDA

The campaign generated massive media attention, including The NY Times, The Guardian, PBS, Business Insider, Bloomberg, Forbes, Mashable, The Hill, CNBC, Daily Beast, Newsweek, Vice, WINS, WOR, NY1, ABC, NBC, HuffPost, Univision Noticias, DNAINfo, Observer, Brooklyn Patch, POZ, DesignBoom, NY Daily News, NY Post, AdForum, Advocate, Metro, International Business Times, among others.

Our campaign helped contribute to the political pressure, as letters were send by the United States Senate and Congress to ask the government agency in charge to drop the gay blood ban.

Our art Installations and art events sparked media coverage, and reached millions:

• “Dumpster Art Project at NYC Pride (2.1 million attendees)

• Jordan Eagles Blood Mirror events in Washington DC and New York City draws hundreds of attendees and massive media attention

For the medical side, we achieved our primary goal: Dr. Marks joined in person for our Medical Advisory Board, and asked for brainstorms for a new questionnaires and studies that will help change the policy.

We are also excited to report that The National Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, Alabama has agreed to make Blood Equality a featured project in September, 2017.