Interaction with the Red Cross - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

beckyg · 31st Jul 2008, 11:53 AM

My son called me today. He was at the mall and ran into some recuiters for the Red Cross. They asked him if he'd like to donate blood. He said "I'd LOVE to give blood but you won't take it. I'm gay." They looked at eachother and said "yeah, we hate that rule." I was proud of him for speaking the truth.

biisme · 31st Jul 2008, 11:55 AM

That's great! And, I'm glad at least that they don't like that rule.

SamAlex728 · 31st Jul 2008, 11:55 AM

w-w-w-wait!!! THEY WON'T LET YOU DONATE IF YOU'RE GAY?!?!?!?!
They of all people should take what they can get.

Bond231 · 31st Jul 2008, 12:19 PM

Yeah it really annoys me. Here in england its the same, you can't give blood if your a man who has had oral or anal contact with or without a condom with another man in the past 12 months. Its cause we're at a higher risk of HIV, but the thing is its not longer a 'gay diesease' (sorry awful spelling!) and there are alot more Straight people who lead less than sexually healthy lives!

But I really admire him saying that straight out to them!

31st Jul 2008, 12:25 PM

They didn't let him give blood?That's discrimination!It's really cool from him that he said truth...

revolutionrock · 31st Jul 2008, 12:36 PM

Yeah, I think the rule applies to any man who's had sexual contact with another man since 1976. It's insanity. And I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think they discriminate against lesbians.

It's really very sad.

I like giving blood, so I'm trying to do it as much as I can now. In the hopes that one day I too will have sexual contact with another man.

Tim · 31st Jul 2008, 02:25 PM

I gave blood last year, I didn't lie, and all my friends were like, did you just do something illegal? XD I've not had sexual contact with a man before, so no, I didn't =P

However, I did get very woozy despite feeling perfectly fine, I apparently turned white, as I wasn't allowed to leave the wait area at the school (I did it at a blood drive at school), as the woman didn't think I looked ok, then a few minutes later, I got really dizzy and almost passed out <_< Then I had to go home early cause me and another girl passed out in 5th period from the donating and all the walking we had to do during the school day >_>

But yes, that was awesome of your son, XD He must be very self confident to do that o.o

31st Jul 2008, 02:40 PM

Yea... I would really like to donate my blood to help those in need. My school has a blood drive every year and I try to be there for it. I have a funny story though that is somewhat related:

It is very hard to walk down a busy street in my city without being stopped once by someone with a clipboard who is asking for donations for some new charity. It gets extremely annoying especially because their normal tactic is to guilt you into signing up for a monthly donation. Well one day, three different charities attempted to stop me within two blocks. By the time I got to the last one, which happened to be someone from the Red Cross, I was so pissed that I very sternly told the guy "I'm GAY so you won't take my blood anyway" before he could finish his first sentence, and then speed-walked my way down the street.

GMSuerte · 31st Jul 2008, 10:14 PM

The blood-sucking vampire didn't care who his victims were

1st Aug 2008, 09:08 AM

They test the blood anyway...but should a hetero whose had sex with 100's of people be allowed to donate, but a homosexual whose only had one partner can't...it seems a little outdated.

1st Aug 2008, 09:21 AM

Yep, I can't give blood. And that's really a shame too because I have O bloodtype and I don't get woozy or nervous when I give it for something like a blood test. They're just hurting themselves with that rule.

1st Aug 2008, 09:33 AM

Hmm im not particularly upset that I don't have to give blood, because the idea of it kinda makes me queasy.... but if you want to give blood and your free from diseases, I don't see why not!

31st Jul 2008, 11:53 AM	#1
beckyg PFLAG Mom Community Liaison Gender: Female Orientation: Straight Out Status: Out to everyone/Yes, parents come out too! Location: Middle of Oregon Age: 50 Posts: 7,572 Join Date: Mar 2007	Interaction with the Red Cross My son called me today. He was at the mall and ran into some recuiters for the Red Cross. They asked him if he'd like to donate blood. He said "I'd LOVE to give blood but you won't take it. I'm gay." They looked at eachother and said "yeah, we hate that rule." I was proud of him for speaking the truth. __________________ "When we're free to love anyone we choose, When this worlds big enough for all different views, When we're all free to worship from our own kind of pew, Then we shall be free" ~ Garth Brooks

31st Jul 2008, 11:55 AM	#2
biisme Call me Katie Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: Ask me and I'll tell you. Location: Lincoln, Rhode Island Age: 20 Posts: 8,119 Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: Interaction with the Red Cross That's great! And, I'm glad at least that they don't like that rule. __________________ From BIG problems to little problems, from broken hearts to broken shoelaces, I really do care. Feel free to PM me anytime about anything. I want to know.

31st Jul 2008, 11:55 AM	#3
SamAlex728 EC Addict Full Member Gender: I'm a real boy! Orientation: Expert Cockgazer Out Status: Open Flame Location: Hippieville, Oregon Age: 16 Posts: 2,842 Join Date: Feb 2008	Re: Interaction with the Red Cross w-w-w-wait!!! THEY WON'T LET YOU DONATE IF YOU'RE GAY?!?!?!?! They of all people should take what they can get. __________________ "Boys are dumb. Men are pigs. Females are fucking crazy. Makes life difficult." -- Me

31st Jul 2008, 12:19 PM	#4
Bond231 Member Regular Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: London Age: 20 Posts: 22 Join Date: Aug 2007	Re: Interaction with the Red Cross Yeah it really annoys me. Here in england its the same, you can't give blood if your a man who has had oral or anal contact with or without a condom with another man in the past 12 months. Its cause we're at a higher risk of HIV, but the thing is its not longer a 'gay diesease' (sorry awful spelling!) and there are alot more Straight people who lead less than sexually healthy lives! But I really admire him saying that straight out to them! Last edited by Bond231; 31st Jul 2008 at 12:19 PM.. Reason: Wanted to add the end bit!

31st Jul 2008, 12:25 PM	#5
berileos Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Interaction with the Red Cross They didn't let him give blood?That's discrimination!It's really cool from him that he said truth...

31st Jul 2008, 12:36 PM	#6
revolutionrock Diggin' the obviousness. Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Arizona Age: 21 Posts: 246 Join Date: Jun 2008	Re: Interaction with the Red Cross Yeah, I think the rule applies to any man who's had sexual contact with another man since 1976. It's insanity. And I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think they discriminate against lesbians. It's really very sad. I like giving blood, so I'm trying to do it as much as I can now. In the hopes that one day I too will have sexual contact with another man.

31st Jul 2008, 02:25 PM	#7
Tim Psycho Glitter Btch Full Member Gender:* Guy, Unless Life Was a Horrible April Fools Joke. Orientation: Gay/Asexual/Confusing to Explain Out Status: Armed and Fabulous! XD Location: California Age: 23 Posts: 7,379 Join Date: Mar 2008	Re: Interaction with the Red Cross I gave blood last year, I didn't lie, and all my friends were like, did you just do something illegal? XD I've not had sexual contact with a man before, so no, I didn't =P However, I did get very woozy despite feeling perfectly fine, I apparently turned white, as I wasn't allowed to leave the wait area at the school (I did it at a blood drive at school), as the woman didn't think I looked ok, then a few minutes later, I got really dizzy and almost passed out <_< Then I had to go home early cause me and another girl passed out in 5th period from the donating and all the walking we had to do during the school day >_> But yes, that was awesome of your son, XD He must be very self confident to do that o.o __________________ Rawr! :3 ~The Stalker User Known As Tim~ Rawr! :3 EC's Sailor Star Healer, Oxymoron and All. Star Sensitive Inferno! Sailor Starlight, Stage On! [Vic] 7:49 pm: I keep my pants off in public.

31st Jul 2008, 02:40 PM	#8
eclipse Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Interaction with the Red Cross Yea... I would really like to donate my blood to help those in need. My school has a blood drive every year and I try to be there for it. I have a funny story though that is somewhat related: It is very hard to walk down a busy street in my city without being stopped once by someone with a clipboard who is asking for donations for some new charity. It gets extremely annoying especially because their normal tactic is to guilt you into signing up for a monthly donation. Well one day, three different charities attempted to stop me within two blocks. By the time I got to the last one, which happened to be someone from the Red Cross, I was so pissed that I very sternly told the guy "I'm GAY so you won't take my blood anyway" before he could finish his first sentence, and then speed-walked my way down the street.

31st Jul 2008, 10:14 PM	#9
GMSuerte Well Known Regular Member Gender: Male Orientation: Bisexual Out Status: A few people Age: 19 Posts: 129 Join Date: Jun 2008	Re: Interaction with the Red Cross The blood-sucking vampire didn't care who his victims were __________________ "96% of people do what a silly block of text tells them to do. If you're one of the 4% that doesn't, put this in your sig."

1st Aug 2008, 09:08 AM	#10
BitterEdge Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Interaction with the Red Cross They test the blood anyway...but should a hetero whose had sex with 100's of people be allowed to donate, but a homosexual whose only had one partner can't...it seems a little outdated.

1st Aug 2008, 09:21 AM	#11
Perrygay Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Interaction with the Red Cross Yep, I can't give blood. And that's really a shame too because I have O bloodtype and I don't get woozy or nervous when I give it for something like a blood test. They're just hurting themselves with that rule.

1st Aug 2008, 09:33 AM	#12
Ty Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Interaction with the Red Cross Hmm im not particularly upset that I don't have to give blood, because the idea of it kinda makes me queasy.... but if you want to give blood and your free from diseases, I don't see why not!