Thanks to everyone who rescued the Newsplex crew’s Comments Section from the ignoramus known as “Archie”- who is probably just some jackwad trying to be funny. Archie had the post that read: "Good, I don’t want any gay blood in me if I go to the hospital!" Even if the post were in jest, there are plenty of people who probably share the sentiment. One of them is not Charles, who singled out this “Archie” in his Comment, which is worth the scrolldown I assure you.
Here’s some of your (I say your because I recognize a few names) comments about the gay blood ban issue posted on the link I provided yesterday.
Posted by: Ryan Location: Virginia on Jun 15, 2010 at 05:20 PM
I feel this ban is discriminatory and outdated, Other high risk groups like IV drug users , promiscuous heterosexuals and prostitutes are deferred from donation only one year from their last high risk encounter. I know many gay people in monogamous relationships, some with rare blood types, who are willing but unable to donate LIFESAVING blood. I’m also a Hemophiliac like Shawn Decker, who receives Factor VIII three times or more per week to treat my Severe Hemophilia. I was spared HIV infection in the 80’s from tainted blood products, but my older brother wasn’t. He passed away in 1991. We are in the year 2010 & no longer in the 1980’s. Science & the times have changed. It’s time this was changed as well. People’s lifestyles should be considered when donating blood, not their sexual orientation. Did I mention that I’m gay as well?
[ Report Abuse ]
Imagine this....serve your country - but be stationed in the UK (in 1985). You are banned as well from ever giving blood because you could have been exposed to “mad cow” disease! Well, the gay men can just “moooove” over and wait for common sense to be used.
[ Report Abuse ]
Banning blood donors based on who they are rather than on bahaviors they engage in is indeed risky business. Just as people self report that they are a gay man, they could identify whether or not they have engaged in risky behavior prior to giving blood. Not allowing gay men to donate blood makes no sense and doesn’t address the real risk. This kind of discrimination is just not warranted.
[ Report Abuse ]
Yeessss we should be allowed to donate. I could give blood every Monday because I’m off werrk. If someone can give me directions to the gay-blood-donor collection center, I’ll drive down in my Prius Hybrid. It will give me a chance to listen to Pendulum by Foundry over and over!
[ Report Abuse ]
There is no good reason nowadays to ban gay men from donating if they are behaving in sexually responsible manner (condoms, monogamous, etc.). Fine, have a six month ban if you have had sex within that time frame to make sure there is no HIV infection. Seriously, you could sleep with 5 women with no protection a couple of weeks prior to donating and its all good. But have protected gay sex just once in your life and you are automatically banned? Ridiculous. Granted, I do have a horse in this fight as I am a bisexual male (currently nonsexual right now), so yeah, I would like to donate in good conscience, as I am a type o negative, which is always in short supply. Its time to get out of the 80’s. Technology is MUCH better, now and so there is no need for this draconian policy.
[ Report Abuse ]
While there may be some risk, in regards to the previous comment, there is always a risk, gay or straight. You risk any number of blood borne diseases no matter the sexual preference. The need for blood is always high, if it is statistically proven to be a higher rate of infection in blood from gay men, not merely a stigma, then the blood donation centers should step up their testing on all bloods coming in. It shouldn’t be a matter of where the blood is coming from but the stringency of testing and quality control, as it were, on the blood supplies. Fear and lifestyle disagreements shouldn’t affect our levels of blood supply.
[ Report Abuse ]
Of course gay men should be allowed to donate! All donor blood is tested for many things, including HIV, and the testing is no more or less likely to miss the virus in a straight donor than it is in a gay donor. How many people are faced with the possibility of not receiving the blood they need simply because willing donors were turned away due to sexual orientation?
[ Report Abuse ]
Does this apply to lesbians as well? How about transexuals? What if they like country music? Or maybe they’re fat? Be sure to ask these questions as you are bleeding to death. Homosexuals are not mutants, what the heck is wrong with you?
[ Report Abuse ]
That’s real intelligent Archie. As if gay blood would somehow make you any more of a lowlife. Your ignorance is tragic. Hopefully you aren’t breeding.
----------------------------------------------------
Positively Yours,
Shawn
Watch, Friend and Follow me on:
YouTube, Facebook and Twitter
Website: ShawnandGwenn.com Also check out the lovely Gwenn’s Fashion/Coffee Blog
Like what you’ve read? Then buy me an iced mocha or check out my new CD: Synthetic Division, A Symptom of Life, which is now on iTunes!
SHARE THE BLOG. NOT THE VIRUS.
Comments
Comments