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National Aids Day and a rant on the Red Cross
14 years ago
Most of you might have already seen me go RAWR on Twitter with this in Shorter form. This is probably one of only two or three things that push my buttons quickly, but here it is in long form:
If an individual is being safe about sex and can prove they are clean, then there is no reason they should not be able to donate blood. I understand that the workings of the body and Medicine is much more complex, and that various factors come into play such as virus incubation and such, but all one ever hears when they are denied the ability to give blood despite being clean is "You've had sex with men", which is then associated with the idea of STIs being the reason. The Red Cross constantly crys out because of Blood shortage, yet deny hundreds because they have slept with someone of the same gender. Is it ONLY STIs?
If Yes, then explain why a gay male cannot donate blood, despite having had sex, if they can prove themselves a clean bill of health? Yes, virus have incubation periods. It's why you when you go in anyway they give you the slip that tells you the number to call in case you later discover or develop the virus because of sex, no matter who with!
If No, then explain what other factors come into play! Do not keep us in the dark.
Mind you, I donate every time I can. I HAVE HAD GAY BUTTSEX. I know I also have a clean bill of health. Tell me why I shouldn't donate. Give me Scientific medical proof why I should not donate. More likely to develop STDs is NOT enough, because safe, protected sex, no matter what they type, is practiced.
-Border Da Cougah
If an individual is being safe about sex and can prove they are clean, then there is no reason they should not be able to donate blood. I understand that the workings of the body and Medicine is much more complex, and that various factors come into play such as virus incubation and such, but all one ever hears when they are denied the ability to give blood despite being clean is "You've had sex with men", which is then associated with the idea of STIs being the reason. The Red Cross constantly crys out because of Blood shortage, yet deny hundreds because they have slept with someone of the same gender. Is it ONLY STIs?
If Yes, then explain why a gay male cannot donate blood, despite having had sex, if they can prove themselves a clean bill of health? Yes, virus have incubation periods. It's why you when you go in anyway they give you the slip that tells you the number to call in case you later discover or develop the virus because of sex, no matter who with!
If No, then explain what other factors come into play! Do not keep us in the dark.
Mind you, I donate every time I can. I HAVE HAD GAY BUTTSEX. I know I also have a clean bill of health. Tell me why I shouldn't donate. Give me Scientific medical proof why I should not donate. More likely to develop STDs is NOT enough, because safe, protected sex, no matter what they type, is practiced.
-Border Da Cougah
kurayamiinu
~kurayamiinu
It's just because they haven't even been bothered to update their little approval list, just the red cross being as paranoid as they where in the 80's
KitRuppell
~kitruppell
It's the Red Cross. Bear that in mind.
Luke Fox
~cooljoe224
I don't believe the cross has anything to do with it...
Mykul
~mykul
Actually Border, I actually gotta say you are a tiny bit misinformed about the Red Cross. Yes right now men that had/have sex with the same gender still can't give blood (unless someone lies and it's unnoticed), but it's way out of the Red Cross's control. It mostly has to do with regulations by the Food and Drug Association....which is the government in essence plays a large role in. Unfortunately all blood donation organization groups, including the Red Cross, are required by law to follow these guidelines set by the FDA regardless of their personal views on the matter. Heck, the Red Cross even supports a 1-year deferral period as opposed to a lifetime ban, I mean it may still be highly discriminatory but at least its a start. What needs to be done is more testing and more research to show that homosexual sex has as much of a risk as heterosexual sex in terms of HIV and other STI's. And then of course it would have to be up to the government to either completely remove it or at least approve a revision that doesn't prevent males in monogamous same-sex relationships from giving blood. Hopefully this discriminating policy will end in the near future.
Border-Walker
~border-walker
OP
You are right. A few tweets later after posting this someone brought up at least the UK's new policy which is the 1 year defferal program. However, I did not know the Red Cross actually supports it. I realize it's out of their hands, but it's still B/S annoyingness.
