The Gay Blood Collection

In 1983, the FDA introduced a guideline that effectively banned men who have sex with men from donating blood. A form of this ban remains in place to this day, making the U.S. one of the only countries to continue to ban the donation of gay men’s blood. So we took the FDA’s unwanted blood and did something about it.

Introducing The Gay Blood Collection, a line of inks and paints made with blood donated by gay men. Created in collaboration with artist and activist Stuart Semple, the products are designed to amplify the nation’s protests against the FDA’s ban. We created a range of tools from spray paint to fountain pen ink – because if protesting with graffiti isn’t your style, maybe inking a letter to your senator is. Over $50,000 in sales was made from the collection, with profits being donated to Callen-Lorde Community Health Center.