Should gays be able to give blood?

Yes. I doubt that there will be anyone who disagrees with me here, so I won't needlessly explain myself, though I will elaborate if anyone does disagree.

 

1. Gay people are not more likely to get HIV. Everyone has an equal chance because we're all human. Hard concept to understand, right?
2. There is actually a higher concentration of AIDs in the straight community than gay community.
3. There is a higher concentration of AIDs in african communities than gay communities as stated in the show.

So, by the FDA's flawed logic straights and anyone of African decent should be banned from giving blood.

There is also a quickly rising Asian AIDs amount.

 

Oh, since we're on the subject, here's a talk by one of the world's leading epidemiologists, Elizabeth Pisani, about HIV and AIDS: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_pisani_sex_drugs_and_hiv_let_s_get_rational_1.html

She talks about different rationales which conflict and aid the spread of HIV. She then talks about a solution.

 

Is it bad my only thought watching that video was

"Wtf, why is there a man co-hosting The View?"

I don't believe there's any reason why gay men shouldn't be able to. I'm not going into detail, as I don't believe I need to.

 

Now a days with being able to test for infection's i don't see why they should be banned. No justification's and only helps to support people's stereotypes of all gay men have HIV and other blood born diseases.

 

This is quite win.

The most intelligent things I have ever heard someone say about HIV.

 

I agree.

Her thing about condoms and the Pope was epic.

 

I can't view the video. It's doing one of it's "You're in Canada, you no view, BAHAHAH"

 

EDIT: Oops, never mind.

 

Yes we should for many many reason as already outlined plus i want to give some back due to personal reasons.

 

Hell yes! I personally never want to give blood, but I know that there are a lot of LGBT people who want to. They should be allowed to, period.

 

This is like asking if people should be allowed to breathe.

 

This.

 

I'll disagree for the sake of argument...

I don't necessarily agree that this is a gay right's issue. Giving blood is not a right, nor is it really a privilege, it just is what it is. HIV at one time (I'm not sure about now, I'd welcome any evidence) was more concentrated among gay men than it was among straight people in the Western world. No test that you will ever get in a hospital is 100% accurate 100% of the time and there are always a few cases that get through no matter what the disease. The blood donor exclusions are designed to lower the number of people with HIV walking through the door and thus lower the number of potential cases which may get through the biochemical tests.

The primary concern of the whole blood donor apparatus must always be the good of the patient and how people feel about being excluded from the process should NEVER trump the well-being of the people receiving the blood.

Now, at least in Canada and in Europe, blood donor clinics aren't trying to be homophobic. They base their decisions on who can give blood and who can't based on the best scientific evidence available. If we as gay people so desire to give blood, then we need to prove, using conclusive peer-reviewed studies, that there will be no risk to the end patient.

I don't actually know if this proof exists, if it does then I would agree, gay people should be allowed to give blood. If the proof doesn't exist, then our first fight should not be against the blood banks but we should be fighting for these studies to be performed.

 

Yes but there rules are based on information that was correct over 20-30 years ago! Its kind of obsolete now if you ask me.

 

I know what you are saying but upon death i am allowed to donate my organs (from the UK) but yet they will not accept my blood.

There is a greater rate of HIV infection from those of African origin yet there is no exclusion?, There is a greater rate of infection form people that sleep around (gay and straight) yet there is no exclusion for that?

I agree I don't think they are doing it to be homophobic, but they are scared to move away from stereotypes.

 

im appaled that in my counrty gay people arent allowed to give blood

personally i had always looked forward to being able to give blood, then i found out i wasnt allowed just because of my sexuality and peoples stupid prejudice about that.... its disgusting