Wow, I've donated a bunch of blood in my time, but every 8 weeks is above and beyond!
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MacRumors 2011 Blood Drive
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Wow, I've donated a bunch of blood in my time, but every 8 weeks is above and beyond!
It's not. Risky male to female sex is also excluded (sleeping with anyone involved in the sex industry). It's a question of exposure to mixing blood, and thus communicating disease. Statistically, Male to Male sex increases that risk. Also, if it was a homophobic policy female to female sex would be deemed a risk factor, but it's not, as it does not carry elevated risk. And to clarify, I'm not saying elevated means high - I'm saying it means higher.
Gay and bisexual men have a HIV infection rate 44 times higher than heterosexual men according to the CDC.
http://healthland.time.com/2010/09/26/study-20-of-homosexual-men-are-hiv-positive-but-only-half-know-it/
Yadmonkey is right. I don't equate it with anything. They are just a category of activities with higher risk of communication of blood communicable diseases. The issue isn't the amount of sex or even the number of partners. The issue is that male to male sex by its very nature has a higher chance of passing on certain diseases than male to female. Risky male to female is also excluded (if you have slept with a prostitute or been in countries with high levels of disease). It's not a moral judgement (if it were surely lesbians would also be blocked from giving). I never implied that gay people sleep around more than anyone else. I also didn't imply that they are more likely to behave in risky ways, I just said that the same act male to male has a higher risk than male to female - a statistical reality that leads to a policy some may feel is bigoted. I'm just pointing out why it's not.
I've not given for a couple of years since our town hall was closed for refurbishment (that's where the donor sessions were held). But this has inspired me to look up a session next week.
My "I do something amazing. I give blood" card keeps eyeing me disapprovingly from my wallet. Actually, looking at that page, I think I'm only one donation away from the silver award. Sweet!
I'm AB+ (universal recipient) which is handy.
My "I do something amazing. I give blood" card keeps eyeing me disapprovingly from my wallet. Actually, looking at that page, I think I'm only one donation away from the silver award. Sweet!
I'm AB+ (universal recipient) which is handy.
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Being a regular blood donor I think this is a fantastic move by the MacRunours site, hope it inspires more to donate blood
Being a regular blood donor I think this is a fantastic move by the MacRunours site, hope it inspires more to donate blood
I disagree. I think this is a perfectly good place to discuss the matter.
No matter of public health policy is exists in a void. All public health concerns have a social component.
This policy will change over time, as a result of changing social mores, changing demographics and better detection technology. Even if this policy is not now discriminatory, for the latter two reasons, it will become very discriminatory. The timing and threshold for any given country or area will be different but as that line is crossed, there should be a group of people pointing out that a policy such as this is unfair and prejudicial. Not everyone will agree as that time comes, but things don't change because everyone kept quiet.
I don't think that threshold has been crossed in the US and the calls for lifting the restrictions are premature.
Every time I see a blood drive my blood just boils... As an HIV negative gay man who is in a monogamous committed long term relationship with my partner, I doubt I am any more of a risk then any other heterosexual couple in a relationship, yet they don't see it that way....
Their loss..
Their loss..
I'd totally donate, but what little blood I have is usually loaded with alcohol and THC, so I don't think they'll take it. Plus I've had lots of piercings, one in the last month, so I can't. 
I doubt you are either. I'm ineligible because I spent a week in Africa 6 months ago. I didn't sleep with anyone, and just spent all my time in an office doing economics research. The thing is, it's about getting as much blood as possible for the lowest cost (the cost comes in screening), and that is done by eliminating people in broad strokes, rather than on a case by case basis. Don't take it personally.
Thanks to all who donate! As a bone marrow transplant nurse, I can tell you first hand that this truly does save lives. Perhaps I'll go donate tomorrow. I'm usually turned away due to my hematocrit or my foreign travel.
:] This really inspires me to try to donate blood. Hopefully this time I won't pass out due to a drop in blood pressure (&consequently throw out my incomplete donation)
I do think, though, that homosexuals should not be banned from donating blood. Heterosexuals are at equal risk of having HIV.. it all depends on safe sex, not sexuality. :/
I do think, though, that homosexuals should not be banned from donating blood. Heterosexuals are at equal risk of having HIV.. it all depends on safe sex, not sexuality. :/
In addition to giving blood and/or platelets I encourage everyone to register as a stem cell donor. Nowadays stem cell donation is quick and virtually painless, and you can save the life of a desperately ill person whose illness can be eradicated with just a few vials of your life-saving stem cells.
http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_Now/join_now.html
Stem cell donors are urgently needed, there is a huge shortage and long wait lists from patients who are dying. I have a complex blood plasma cancer and might need a stem cell donor at some point in the future to save my life. Please register, it only takes a few minutes. The chance you will ever actually be needed as a donor is small (you'd have to be a perfect match on many blood criteria), and if you are contacted you can still refuse, so you are not committing to anything just by signing up.
http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_Now/join_now.html
Stem cell donors are urgently needed, there is a huge shortage and long wait lists from patients who are dying. I have a complex blood plasma cancer and might need a stem cell donor at some point in the future to save my life. Please register, it only takes a few minutes. The chance you will ever actually be needed as a donor is small (you'd have to be a perfect match on many blood criteria), and if you are contacted you can still refuse, so you are not committing to anything just by signing up.
Arrgh! You cited the tamest statistic from the CDC article. Here are the others: 20% of gay men are HIV positive and 44% don't know it.
THAT is why the question is asked. As a future possible recipient of blood, I'm glad they ask it.
Yes, we of the negative blood community try to help out, especially as our blood is more rare. I'll be once again ready to give my my A- blood this month, but I must ask, how long has MacRumors been supporting blood drives and where did the relationship come from?
I don't totally see the connection, but I love this promotion. What a good cause!
To all the people incensed that they've been labelled high-risk (for whatever reason) and not able to give blood, for goodness sakes… it's not about you. Go and spend one night a month washing dishes in a soup kitchen or something if it's really about giving to the community. There are no shortage of things you can quietly do to give to others.
To everyone else, it just means we have to give more blood to make up for the loss! It's great if this thread has inspired you to give. It was many years before I finally started donating… Not because I didn't want to, but like a lot of things, I just never got around to it. Then I saw a mobile blood van and thought… right, no excuses for putting it off.
Now someone in my family has been receiving blood to deal with a potentially life-threatening condition, so we are so thankful to the mystery donors!
Me too. When I first gave blood and found that out I thought, oh my blood is pretty much useless as it's only good for the small percentage of population with exactly the same type. But, it's the reverse with plasma. If you need plasma, we got the good stuff! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_type#Red_blood_cell_compatibility
To everyone else, it just means we have to give more blood to make up for the loss! It's great if this thread has inspired you to give. It was many years before I finally started donating… Not because I didn't want to, but like a lot of things, I just never got around to it. Then I saw a mobile blood van and thought… right, no excuses for putting it off.
Now someone in my family has been receiving blood to deal with a potentially life-threatening condition, so we are so thankful to the mystery donors!
Me too. When I first gave blood and found that out I thought, oh my blood is pretty much useless as it's only good for the small percentage of population with exactly the same type. But, it's the reverse with plasma. If you need plasma, we got the good stuff! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_type#Red_blood_cell_compatibility