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MacRumors 2013 Blood Drive
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Because that's one of the more personal questions that they ask.
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You guys are totally missing the point - we shouldn't have to lie about it since it's an utterly ridiculous rule. All blood is thoroughly tested before use for any number of abnormalities so the rule being enforced now is simply another of the religious right's way to discriminate against us and try to make us into pariahs. It isn't working, but they aren't known for rational thought.
The funny thing is that if one of them desperately needed a transfusion to live I can guarantee they'd take it from anyone: gay, straight, black, white, male, female, etc. It's all about trying to maintain power over others and making themselves feel better about their small miserable lives.
</soapbox>
Big props to Macrumors. My kid's life was saved by bone marrow donated by her sister. She had to have monthly blood transfusions before that.
Unfortunately I can't donate either blood or bone marrow as I am a carrier of a genetic blood disease. I totally appreciate all those that donate. Thanks to all of you.
Unfortunately I can't donate either blood or bone marrow as I am a carrier of a genetic blood disease. I totally appreciate all those that donate. Thanks to all of you.
No. The US still enforces rules left over from the dark ages of AIDS research, when HIV testing was still experimental, and it was thought that restricting blood donations from certain groups of people (in this case, men who have had sex with men any time since the 1970s) would be more effective.
So it is possible for a straight person who engages in high-risk activity to donate blood (e.g. someone who has unprotected sex with a large number of casual partners), but a gay man who does not engage in high-risk activity (e.g. in a long-term monogamous relationship with a person who has consistently tested HIV-negative) cannot donate. Despite that fact that we've known since the 1990s that these criteria miss the mark. This puts the blood supply at slightly greater risk (because of what it allows, even though they test it all for HIV) and more importantly it limits the supply (because of the people it turns away). The demeaning way it treats all gay and bisexual men is just insulting icing on the bad-medicine cake.
Oh, and btw, if he's had sex with someone he knew was HIV positive, he would only have to wait one year before he could give blood again.
My mom had ALS, and passed away in 2007. I was so grateful that so many people gave blood to help her that I've done the same as much as I can ever since. I've given plasma a few times, and even donated bone marrow once. You never know when someone you love will need help, so I feel it's the duty of those of us who can help to do so.
Thats Me!
When I gave blood, I was told that just 5% of the US donates. And 36% of that comes from high school blood drives like the one I was part of.
When I gave blood, I was told that just 5% of the US donates. And 36% of that comes from high school blood drives like the one I was part of.
To be totally correct on the gay thing; during the pre-donation interview, they will ask you, if you are a man, if you have had sex with another man, and you will be disqualified if so (or, at least, I presume it's very likely). If you are a lesbian or a gay man who has not been sexually active with another man, you're good; on the other hand, if you consider yourself straight but you've had sex with another man before (hey, I won't judge), you're out. (At least as far as California goes; I'm not sure to what degree this may vary by state or country.)
Yes, it's misguided and not fair, but please don't let that discourage you from giving blood if you're eligible. Someone who's having a very bad day and needs your blood to survive shouldn't have to suffer because of some unrelated bureaucracy's misguided policy.
Yes, it's misguided and not fair, but please don't let that discourage you from giving blood if you're eligible. Someone who's having a very bad day and needs your blood to survive shouldn't have to suffer because of some unrelated bureaucracy's misguided policy.
I used to donate plasma twice a week for over 2 years. It has been a while since I have been back because my wife was sick and have been busy since cause her dad got sick right after.
Because of people like these people donating my wife is still here today. She has/had leukemia and while in the hospital for over a month that blood/platlets donated by people helped save her.
Big thank you to all that do donate and those that spread the word to donate.
Because of people like these people donating my wife is still here today. She has/had leukemia and while in the hospital for over a month that blood/platlets donated by people helped save her.
Big thank you to all that do donate and those that spread the word to donate.
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He/she could well be from the UK. Follows is Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service information. I expect England, NI and Wales is more or less the same.
Have done some further research and Northern Ireland hasn't yet adopted the 12 month rule that was introduced in the rest of the UK in 2011. This means that in NI if you have ever had oral/anal sex with a man you are banned for donating for life.
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Phew..Glad to hear that...
Otherwise I would have thought the "Blood Drive" was a new tech release to replace all HD, SSD and Fusion Drives....
I wish I could donate blood, but I can't for several reasons.
mind sharing to the internet why
I don't know that this is a result of political pressures, though loosening restrictions could have a political element. There have been a number of blood services that have had "tainted blood scandals" due to poor processes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tainted_blood_scandal in Canada, Japan, and France. These sorts of issues are deadly to the recipients of tainted blood, but they also dramatically impact donation rates. National blood services thus are very wary about narrowing the groups that are considered at higher risk. Testing of the blood in the system is not foolproof, so there are good reasons beyond the political to restrict donors. Canada does not seem to have published restrictions, but the questionnaire they use asks about sex with another man, sex with people who lived in Africa, sex for drugs or money, serving in prison, living in the UK and parts of the EU between certain dates, and current illnesses or treatments.
https://www.blood.ca/CentreApps/Internet/UW_V502_MainEngine.nsf/page/ROD Questionnaire
If one is restricted from donating blood, rather than lying to be able to donate, may I encourage anyone to write a letter to the blood service in question in order to try to enact change, and then use your time to assist in recruiting others to donate blood. Go with some classmates or workmates or family members and be even more effective than if you were allowed to donate and just went yourself!
Canada. Been in a monogamous relationship for almost 20 years. Can't donate. Can't be an organ donor either. I didn't know that at first, had to call them and ask them to remove me when I found out I wasn't allowed (I had been on the list for over 15 years before that).
Guess the government would rather see people die than have gay organs in them.
At any rate, that has nothing to do with the people in need - I hope the goals are met!
I would gladly take your blood or organs if I needed them Carson. I know that means very little, but I can only speak for myself.
