New York’s High Line to Host Blood Illuminations to Protest Restrictions on Gay Blood Donations

Walkers along New York's High Line will notice a stark yet beautiful silhouette as the sun sets on June 14--projections of screens of blood along the walls of the 14th Street passage.

The park is partnering with artist Jordan Eagles for an exhibition of his latest works for World Blood Donor Day. Eagles made headlines last fall for his sculpture, Blood Mirror, which he made from donations of gay and bisexual men. The 7-foot glass structure encasing the blood protests the FDA's requirement of one year of celibacy from gay and bisexual men before they can donate.

Eagles has widened the scope of his work to include donations from 50 gay and queer men who currently take PrEP, a widely popular prescription for preventing the transmission of HIV. He has created screens from these blood donations to project June 14, to raise awareness for the science and safety of gay and queer blood.

"It doesn't matter if you are gay, straight, male, female, young, old, or where in the world you were born, this is both an equality and science issue, that affects us all on so many levels," Eagles said in a statement. "We have the ability to save lives and do what's right."

The projections, called Blood Illumination, will begin at 8 p.m.

Watch a video below where donors talk about the ban and their reasons for participating.