Donate Life Month: Inclusion Saves Lives
April is Donate Life Month—a time to raise awareness, honor donors, and highlight the life-saving impact of organ, eye, and tissue donation.
In the United States today, more than 100,000 people are waiting for a life-saving transplant. And every day, people die waiting—simply because there aren’t enough registered donors.
Together, we can make a difference.
Part of the gap is driven by misinformation—like about who can be an organ donor. So let’s talk about that.
Breaking the Myth: LGBTQ+ People Can Donate
There is still a persistent myth that LGBTQ+ individuals cannot register as organ donors. That is simply not true.
Sexual orientation and gender identity do not disqualify someone from becoming an organ, eye, or tissue donor.
What matters is medical suitability at the time of death—not identity.
When people opt out because they believe they are ineligible, the system loses potential life-saving donors before the conversation even begins.
Learn more: https://donatelife.net/faqs/lgbtq/
HIV and Organ Donation: A Critical Shift
One of the most misunderstood areas of donation is HIV.
For decades, people living with HIV were automatically excluded from organ donation. That changed in 2013 with the HOPE Act (HIV Organ Policy Equity Act), which now allows people living with HIV to donate organs to recipients who are also living with HIV under regulated medical protocols.
Here’s why that matters:
- There are an estimated 350–600 potential HIV-positive donors each year in the U.S.
- These donations expand the donor pool and reduce wait times, particularly for people living with HIV who historically face barriers to transplantation
- Outcomes are strong—studies show comparable survival rates between HIV-positive and HIV-negative transplant recipients
In some cases, patients living with HIV who are open to receiving organs from HIV-positive donors receive transplants years sooner than those waiting for traditional matches.
Yet awareness remains low. In one study, only about 20% of people living with HIV knew donation was even possible.
Learn more: https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/hiv-and-transplant
This is what inclusion looks like in practice:
More donors → more matches → more lives saved.
Why This Matters for LGBTQ+ Communities
LGBTQ+ communities—especially gay and bisexual men and transgender individuals —have historically faced stigma in healthcare.
Modern medicine has evolved, but the stigma still shapes perceptions and may discourage potential donors.
That gap isn’t just informational—it’s consequential.
Because when people don’t know they can give, lives are lost that could have been saved.
Inclusion Is Not Optional—It’s Life-Saving
In a world where too many people experience exclusion, erasure, or inequitable care, organ donation is one space where inclusion directly translates into survival.
The donor registry should reflect the full diversity of our communities.
Not just because it’s right—but because it works.
The Real Impact of Saying “Yes”
One donor can save up to 8 lives through organ donation and heal dozens more through tissue donation – in fact, a single donation can help more than 75 people. (Learn more: https://donatelife.net/wp-content/uploads/2026-Donation-Transplantation-Statistics.pdf).
That’s a measurable, meaningful impact.
Behind every number is someone:
- A parent getting more time with their children
- A young adult getting a second chance
- A family not having to say goodbye too soon
What You Can Do
If you haven’t already:
- Register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor
- Talk with your loved ones about your decision
- Challenge misinformation when you hear it
Because the most important qualification is not who you are.
It’s whether you say yes.
A Shared Responsibility
Dignity Memorial is a proud national partner of Donate Life America and is committed to raising awareness of the life-saving gifts of organ, eye, and tissue donation. As part of our belief in celebrating the significance of life, we encourage you to take that step.
Register with us here: https://registerme.org/campaign/dignity
A Practical Question I Often Hear
As a pre-planning advisor, a common questions i’m asked is how organ, eye, and tissue donation may impact viewings, services, and disposition options.
In most cases, there is no impact to services. Families can still choose the full range of options, including open-casket viewings, traditional services, cremation, or burial.
For families who experience organ donation, there is also an opportunity to honor that gift in meaningful ways:
- Incorporating donation into the eulogy or readings
- Using symbolic décor or recognition during the service
- Hosting or promoting a donor registration drive in their loved one’s memory
Donation is not a disruption to remembrance—it can be a powerful extension of it.
Because everyone deserves the chance to give—and the chance to receive.
