As New York City sees new surges in COVID-19 cases, there are renewed concerns about blood shortages. But Ryan Manuel Koerber was turned away from the New York Blood Center in April due to his sexuality. FDA guidelines still specifically bar men who have sex with men from donating blood unless they have been celibate for three months.
Also in this episode:
Without access to wifi, students living in New York’s homeless shelters are falling behind their peers during remote learning.
A therapist reflects on the increase of Black clients in her practice, and what it means to be a safe haven for Black people during this tense and transformative year.
A special education teacher discusses the difficulties she and her students are facing this school year as the coronavirus continues to throw a wrench into classroom learning.
Managing Editor: Jackie Harris
Host/Producer: Holly DeMuth
Associate Producer: Ashley Rodriguez
Reporting by Megan Burney, Valen Iricibar, Ali McPherson, and Erika Wheless.
Engineer: Chad Bernhard
Guest: Annie Tan
Editors: Kalli Anderson and Maggie Freleng
Picture credit: Ryan Manuel Koerber
Music credits: Jason Shaw and audionautix.com, statusq, Esther Abrami
For more info on AudioFiles:
www.audiofilespodcast.com