Kerry: Let Gay Men Give Blood

i oppose homosexuality to the furthest extent but come on they're still people. if they're not positive for any diseases then let them give blood. i sure as hell ain't.

I just graduated from SJSU and we were one of the first schools to cancel our blood donation drives because the Red Cross has discriminatory rules. It is not the government/FDA that created this rule, it is solely the Red Cross. And it's discriminatory because the gay and lesbian community doesn't have the highest rate of AIDS/HIV infection anymore like they did in the late seventies and early eighties. Sadly, the highest rates come from poor communities that have little education about the disease. Especially poor African American communities.

I remember hearing about that rule and being pretty pissed off about it back in high school when I first gave blood.

I understand their intent but it was just alarmist nonsense and discrimination, pure and simple.

Like others have pointed out, gay men are third on the list. They'd never ban a -race- because they'd be in deep shit if they tried that. But gays? Oh well, what are they gonna do?

The dumbest thing about it? They ban lesbians too! Not only is it practically impossible to get AIDS sexually if you're a lesbian, they're the lowest statistical category there is! Total insanity.

Yeah i noticed this first time i gave blood. Its so unnecessary. The Red Cross is ALWAYS in need of blood too. I hope this gets rescinded soon.

Nobody ever went broke underestimating the stupidity of the American public. Brilliant - Gay Blood? What a bunch of hysterical morons. Does anyone even remember who Jesus was? Makes it hard for me to be around his fan club at church these days.

This blatantly discriminatory policy was formed from ignorance. It should have been repealed two decades ago. Better late than never, I suppose.

**** the bible..
human beings are human beings...
just give them the proper due like every one else....
who cares if they like what they like....
who the **** are we to judge??..
look and worry bout ya own lives before trying to speak about others.

Sure!
why not? let them donate, in fact let them donate sperm too. just make sure that they test for HIV and AIDS just like everyone else. doesnt change anything.

so, except for the moral responsibility of the individual, how is this enforced?
donors are asked about their sexual history...but their answers are up to them.
this system appears to be broken...it is relying on the honesty and responsibility of the individual to be...well, honest. 'yes, i am straight...gay...bisexual.' or, 'no, ' i am not strait..gay...or bisexual'.

I'm sure there's a bible quote somewhere to justify this... Wait for it...

What if the blood took counseling to be convinced it's not gay?

this is the stupidest shit ever...its not like blood from a gay man will make you gay all of a sudden. Let them donate and test it just like everyone else!....Gosh, some rules and laws are really stupid.

If it's concerns about groups at a higher rate for HIV/AIDS then African American and Latino Women should be the group of most concern. It's sad but there are parts of the US that have higher rates in those populations than in parts of Africa. This due mainly to both to rate of incarceation of men and the lower percentage of man to female ratio in those ethnic groups.

Its unfair, but homosexual men have a higher tendency to have aids so its not completely unjust.

forgive me, I've never donated blood so I'm a little ignorant on this, but do they test everyone that gives blood before they take it? I don't mean to call the kettle black, but gays aren't the only with AIDS...soo....this is just a discriminatory policy we haven't bothered to correct yet.

Just to make things clear, the Red Cross does not support this ban. It's the FDA that prohibits gay/bi men from donating. This is the intolerant and discriminatory practices of the government, not the organization.

I would love to be able to donate blood, become a bone marrow doner, be able to donate my organs, the whole nine yards. The argument that we all have HIV/AIDS is based on data from the late 70's-early 80's. let us donate. People know there is a constant short supply of donations, and yet the gay community is kept from donating.