So I was recruiting for my schools annual blood drive today at lunch. I asked my friend if he would donate and he said, “I can’t, I’m gay.”
Since we are good friends we male fun of each other and make jokes at our own expense and I…
Yeah, I don’t disagree. Person above just over-simplified it to “gay people can’t donate” and that started my research spree.
Plus, they test all the blood after they get it, so the restriction is even more pointless in that case.
So I was recruiting for my schools annual blood drive today at lunch. I asked my friend if he would donate and he said, “I can’t, I’m gay.”
Since we are good friends we male fun of each other and make jokes at our own expense and I thought he was joking. But no. He was dead fucking serious. And I looked it up to verify.In the US you are not allowed to donate blood if you are gay, bi, or lesbian.
I honestly have been pissed about this all day.
oh my god.
Actually the restriction is on men who’ve had sex with men, even once, since 1977. Their higher risk of HIV makes them ineligible. Lesbians are more than welcome to donate, provided they haven’t had sex with a man who has himself had sex with a man. The Red Cross doesn’t appear to entirely agree with such a restrictive stance:
“The FDA is responsible for determining donor eligibility requirements and the Red Cross is required to follow their decisions. However, the
Red Cross does support the use of rational, scientifically-based
deferral periods that are applied fairly and consistently among donors
who engage in similar risk activities. We will continue to work through
the AABB (American Association of Blood Banks) to press for donor
deferral policies that are fair and consistent and based on scientific
evidence, while still protecting patients from potential harm.”
They also say this:
“You should not give blood if you have AIDS or have ever had a positive HIV test, or if you have done something that puts you at risk for
becoming infected with HIV.
You are at risk for getting infected if you:
-have ever used needles to take drugs, steroids, or anything not prescribed by your doctor
-are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977
-have ever taken money, drugs or other payment for sex since 1977
-have had sexual contact in the past 12 months with anyone described above
-received clotting factor concentrates for a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia”
Source: www.redcrossblood.org
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