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#SexIs - #Devil's Advocate - Statistics or Homophobia: Debating the Ban on Gay Blood Donations

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Contributor: Ansley Ansley


Statistics or Homophobia: Debating the Ban on Gay Blood Donations, by Roland Hulme! - Click here to read the full article.



I'm not sure how widespread this knowledge truly is, but there are several things that can disqualify a person from donating blood. This is to protect those who receive transfusions from picking up any unwanted infections while doctors try to save their life. You can find a full list of guidelines from the American Red Cross.

In your personal opinion, do you believe the policy against homosexual men donating blood is homophobic or is it truly in the best interest of those receiving transfusions?
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
I believe it is...
10
100% homophobic, and I'll explain why...
23
100% fair, a lot of people can't donate blood for many reasons...
6
Something else and I'll explain why....
1
.
Donating blood is a...
8
Civic duty and should be done by all of those whom are eligible.
16
Privilege and it should be restricted.
5
...something else (answer in comments)
5
Total votes: 74 (31 voters)
Poll is closed
12/06/2012
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Contributor: Ryuson Ryuson
(Review Program Mentor)
AIDS used to be a homosexual epidemic, but now it effects everyone. I think that if you are in a monogamous homosexual relationship and have both been tested, or you always use protection if you have sex with strangers, everyone should be allowed to donate.
12/06/2012
Contributor: ARPKasso ARPKasso
I believe it's homophobic, because it assumes that all gay men have aids/hiv etc. More or less, regardless of who you are as long as you've been tested for any transmittable disease and don't have any, then there shouldn't be a problem with being able to donate blood.
12/06/2012
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
I'm not sure it's homophobia, but it's discrimination based on ignorance. The rules rightly try to protect the blood supply as best as possible. However, it's flawed because it restricts a group of people rather than the behavior that is considered a risk. It's like laws that ban certain dog breeds. Not all dogs of a breed are dangerous.
12/06/2012
Contributor: edeneve edeneve
I thought all blood was tested to rule out whatever's in the blood that's harmful - not based on a person.
12/06/2012
Contributor: LoooveMonkey LoooveMonkey
Hahaha, homohemophobia.
12/06/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
I agree that it's purely ignorant. Women are asked if they have had sex with a man who is had sex with another man. If you answer yes, you are denied as well. This stops a whole group of people from donating that could have rare blood types and be perfectly healthy samples. Everyone should be able to donate as long as they don't have a disease. That is all that matters. I don't see them asking how many partners you have been with and figuring out a scale for promiscuity.

I donate as often as I can. I often get denied because my iron is border line low. I believe it's a civic duty that all of us who qualify should do.
12/07/2012
Contributor: Incendiaire Incendiaire
It's a very outdated form of prejudice, especially when you consider that other far more risky groups of people are allowed to donate. In this day and age it's largely gay people who are trying to educate about HIV/AIDS and promote safe sex, so taking blood from a gay man who always wears a condom is far safer than a straight man who never does.
12/07/2012
Contributor: quinceykay quinceykay
I think in a way it's understandable that they wouldn't want to take the risk, but of course, not every gay man has HIV/AIDS so permanently excluding them (as well as a women who have had male partners that have had sex with men) is unfair. I don't think it should be mandatory, but I do think everyone who is capable should try to do it. I tried to donate blood about a month ago but my iron was too low
12/07/2012
Contributor: VanillaFreeSex VanillaFreeSex
it's homophobic, ignorant, and assumptive. I believe a better screening question would be what type of sexual activities and what are the persons methods of safer sex. I am curious if they deny blood donations from heterosexuals that engage in anal sex. (whether male or female)
12/08/2012
Contributor: kitty1949 kitty1949
Homophobia and discrimination all at once. Ugh!
12/08/2012
Contributor: Aishiteru Aishiteru
I'd rather not vote or comment, but I'm not allowed to donate because I don't weigh enough, which seems unfair, because I'm petite.
12/09/2012
Contributor: VanillaFreeSex VanillaFreeSex
Quote:
Originally posted by Aishiteru
I'd rather not vote or comment, but I'm not allowed to donate because I don't weigh enough, which seems unfair, because I'm petite.
The weight requirement used to disqualify me when I was younger. I did however donate blood for my own surgery even though i was considered "underweight"...and I passed out. So I imagine that requirement is to cover their butts as far as the donor not recipients.
12/09/2012
Contributor: geliebt geliebt
Anyone who WANTS to donate blood should be allowed to. Do they not screen the blood for infection ANYWAY? Why use an extremely intolerant and generalized view of a huge portion of the population to exclude people, then? This is something I've known about for a long time, and I just can't see why it's even a thing. it makes no sense...
12/10/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
I'm torn. I have to wonder just how much of the supposed "gay culture" comes into play here - it's statistically proven that gay men engage in more anonymous sex than any other demographic...so I really don't know what to think.
12/10/2012
Contributor: Sunny Meadows Sunny Meadows
I had to get blood transfusion 8 years ago. Believe me when I say it is a blessing that there are people who donate. I went and looked at the long list of exclusions. My goodness in today world they are limiting it to very few. And that is if they want to give. I think there is so much out there today that if someone is not honest when they go in there everyone is at risk. Just because someone maybe gay should not matter.

It has been my experience with my gay friends is this. They stay in there relationships longer then most male/female relationship. Plus most of my friends and I mean all gay or not. If they believe they need to be with someone new they find out about there past. Some even go to doctor and have check-ups to make sure everything is okay. Because you never know no matter who you are. I think that one everyone should be judge on medical history and tested before hand. Every person is different and have different behaviors judge on that!
12/11/2012