Giving Blood?

Not in your state?
Well I'm not sure, but I almost gave blood here in CA but couldn't cause of the fact that I was taking antibiotics. However, I did some questionnaire where I had to state if I ever had a sexual encounter with a guy. It's weird but at least those answers were confidential and no one can look them over.
I guess in CA they just take your blood and test it further.
It's stupid when they know the blood bank never have enough blood supply.
I totally agree with you.

 

SERIOUSLY?
well I wouldn't have known...
Fuck... that's stupid...
urgh... what kind of discrimination is that?
i'm seething... that's confidential too!

 

Yup... Just read it on about.com about the Prohibition ban stuff..
you can't donate blood if you had sex with a man from 1977 onwards.

quote :

What if a donor with a rare blood type happens to be gay?

In response to the AIDS crisis of the 1980's the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned any man who has had sex with another man since 1977 from giving blood. This 1985 provision argued that men who have sex with other men are at higher risk of contracting and transmitting HIV and hepatitis, posing a health risk to potential recipients. Thus, even with a needed rare blood type, gay men are prohibited from donating blood.

'end quote'



That's ridiculous. TOTALLY. Now I know why they won't send me my blood donor card. Cause they don't want my blood! I'm so angry right now!

 

Luckily I've never had sexual contact with anyone. So I have given blood, just once before. I might do it again next month, as I've still had no sexual contact with anyone. Hooray for me

 

Jeez! Is that a stupid restriction, or what.

 

I found this: http://www.redcross.org/en/eligibility

This is what it said:are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977

 

I agree with you. They always test the blood,so I think it just may be a form of homophobia.

 

Its exactly the same in the UK, and they do test the blood.

Until i came out i was a regular donor, now cant :bang:

 

The lifetime ban was born out of an era when the testing was one step above monkeys banging rocks against each other.

We've moved beyond that, and now, they can have a result within 72 hours. In 2003, the Red Cross actually recommended modifying and/or removing the ban against males who've had sex with males, but since the approval had to go through the Bush administration, you can guess about how far that went.

And for the record, in the United States, that ban exists nationwide, since it's national policy.

And yes, I'm on the lifetime ban list, as well. At least they don't call to harass me every three months now.

 

I think the ban is wrong and discriminatory. Maybe things will change with Obama in the office. For the record I can still donate for now. :dry:

 

i found a loophole. maybe. what if the man you were in contact with was just bi? does it still matter? or do you even ahve to say.

here if you come in cantact with a gay male they make you wait i think 6 months. i dont understand this law at all. like if im in an orgy and there happens to be a gay man there as well...can i not donate blood.

 

Hmm yes, tell then you couldnt because your iron count was low if you are not ready to answer questions. :icon_bigg