Could you, someone explan me where the Problem is?
Blood is blood
Blood isn't blood. Blood is a fluid that can carry all sorts of pathogens. There are a number of blood born diseases, and while there are tests for many (but not all) of them, the best way to keep them out of the blood supply is not to accept blood from at-risk groups.
Unfortunate as it is, sexually active gay men are a risk group for HIV. The voluntary deferral - asking said man not to give blood - was something of a political compromise. Gay men were, during the 1980's, justifiably concerned about individual level testing for Hep C and later HIV, worried that it would be used to target them. The government and the blood banks wanted to keep the blood supply safe. "Please don't give blood" was as unobtrusive a compromise as could be made.
The restrictions are being reduced - blood banks would like gay men back, they were good donors back in the day - but it takes time, and the FDA/HHS is extremely cautious about the blood supply. There's been increasing pressure in recent years, and most organizations are actively on board, so hopefully it'll be gone soon.
Incidentally, other people who shouldn't be giving blood are here:
http://www.redcrossblood.org/donati...nts/eligibility-criteria-alphabetical-listing
They include things like people who were jailed for more than 3 days in the last year, anyone who had sex with someone with hepatitis, any IV drug user ever, anyone who travelled to the malaria belt last year (or 3 years for folks who lived there), anyone who got a tattoo in the last 12 months unless it was done in a state that regulated tattoo facilities. Anyone who was in Iraq in the last 12 months. Born or lived in West Africa ever - or had close contact with them - anyone who lived for 3+ months in the UK between 1980 and 1996, or since 1980 have lived in Europe for 5 or so years.
This part really grinds my gears. The rules want us to believe that men who have sex with men (after 1977) are a threat to the rest of the population. There are plenty of straight guys and girls that are having sex without condoms.
Technically, there are also a large number of straight guys and girls who shouldn't be giving blood either if they're members of high risk groups. The gay one gets a great deal of attention, but you can be straight as straight can be, and if you're an injection drug user, have taken money, drugs or any sort of payment for having sex, *had sex with anyone* who did any of the above, was born in West Africa - or had sex with those people.
The HIV/AIDS deferrals are extensive. Probably rivaled only by the vCJD ones.
I can however finally give blood again this year. Haven't for about a decade due to one restriction or another, but its been more than 12 months since my last trip to the malaria belt. At last the world can share in my sweet, sweet O- goodness.
