Community | July 17, 2011 | 101 comments

Straight man who appeared gay rejected for blood donation

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KB723
By David Ferguson
Sunday, July 17th, 2011 -- 12:37 pm

Twenty-two-year-old Aaron Pace was trying to donate blood and plasma at a local blood center in Gary, Indiana, when he was informed in an interview during the screening process that he was ineligible to give blood because he "appears to be a homosexual".

Because of a 1983 measure adopted by the Food and Drug Administration, all men who have had sex with another man since 1977 are banned from giving blood. Workers at Bio-Blood Components, Incorporated assumed that Pace was gay, apparently based on his "looks, character, and behavior".

Pace, who is not gay, is understandably miffed. He says he was "humiliated and embarrassed". He also says, "It's not right that homeless people can give blood but homosexuals can't. And I'm not even a homosexual."

The FDA law came about as a result of fears about HIV and the fact that no test existed in 1983 to screen donated blood for the presence of the virus. Now all donated blood is tested for HIV as well as Hepatitis A, B, and C. Still, the law remains in place, in spite of the fact that most places in the United States are facing critical blood shortages.

Bio-Blood, Incorporated has declined to comment on the matter.

(hat-tip to Gawker)

Source: Rawstory.com

"How Stupid is This, what's next, not allowing folks who are well fed to not
contribute food to a food Bank???" Eeeesh!!!!
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101 comments // Straight man who appeared gay rejected for blood donation

  • mybologna
  • Anthony_W
    • +2
      Anthony_W  

    • Aww that's definitely not cool. I do think people like this should be given a test for HIV and AIDS and not just judged on their appearance. You shouldn't wanna stop someone who wants to help the world. I know when I went to the hospital for my ulcer, it took them a while to find my type (O-neg) but maybe it wouldn't have been so hard if they didn't turn people away like this.

    • 10 months ago
  • SandyBerman
    • SandyBerman  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • Incredulous
    • +2
      Incredulous  
    • SandyBerman:

      Not many Americans know the truth behind a story that briefly hit the news almost 10 years ago when an entire province in China came down with AIDS. I remember NPR doing a report on it, and NPR cited the reason for the AIDS outbreak being related to the people selling their blood because they were so poor. That part was actually true, but what NPR did not report was that the reason the entire province came down with AIDS was because the local government extracted the plasma they needed from the blood, and then returned the blood back into the veins of the people, because those people were already severely malnourished, and it would have been life-threatening for them to give blood.

      However, because the local government officials pooled all of the donated blood before extraction, and then gave the people transfusions of the pooled blood, not their own blood, everyone who sold their blood became exposed to AIDS because there were, obviously, some participants who were HIV-positive. That part of the story never made it to our mainstream media, and the only reason I knew is because I asked a Chinese graduate student about the NPR story. You can have all the technology in the world, but if you have government officials who are operating based upon the bottom line, rather than a standard of morality (I know, that is like believing in the tooth fairy), the level of technology is not always an automatic guarantee that can be counted on to protect people....just sayin.

    • 10 months ago
  • SandyBerman
  • Incredulous
  • chrisntom
    • +1
      chrisntom  

    • Perhaps Michele Bachmann's Husband should be aware of this....he reminds me of a guy who would be in charge of a Miss Teen beauty contest..
      let us remember this the next time a narrowminded, redneck, asshole needs blood because he shot his hand off while hunting and drinking

    • 10 months ago
  • Anthony_W
    • +1
      Anthony_W  

    • Aww that's definitely not cool. I do think people like this should be given a test for HIV and AIDS and not just judged on their appearance. You shouldn't wanna stop someone who wants to help the world. I know when I went to the hospital for my ulcer, it took them a while to find my type (O-neg) but maybe it wouldn't have been so hard if they didn't turn people away like this.

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
  • Argon18
    • +2
      Argon18  

    • They are VERY strict about the blood supply. I tried to donate once and was rejected just because I was in England in 1981.

      They have a rule against that too because of fears of Mad Cow disease, with no evidence that I ever came in contact with tainted meat.

      I guess avoiding any hint that the blood supply is less than pure is a bigger priority than any shortages they might have.

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
    • +1
      KB723  
    • Argon18:

      Sure why not... I could buy into that if I was asked if I had had Sex with a Cow lately... Just kidding, I know just what you are saying and greatly appreciate your thoughts and views on this issue... =)

    • 10 months ago
  • Argon18
    • +2
      Argon18  
    • KB723:

      See? that's the kind of thing that fosters the fears. I never had any symptoms of the disease, never saw anyone who did and after 20 years how could anything connected with the disease still be in my blood?

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
  • Incredulous
    • 0
      Incredulous  
    • Argon18:

      the "thing" connected with the disease is a prion, and abnormal prions can take decades to manifest as mad cow disease in humans (CJD or vCJD). The symptoms of mad cow disease may start within a few hours or they may incubate for several years. The record time is 50 years. If you were ever exposed, prions don't just disappear or fade with time, and because they are a protein, not a virus, they cannot be targeted for treatment with things like antibiotics. I suspect, however, that genetic manipulation will eventually provide a viable treatment, and there are people working on that.

      Below is a link to the FDA's rationale for Revised Preventive Measures to Reduce the Possible Risk of Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) by Blood and Blood Products.

      Lengthy, and typically technical in its language, but probably worth the read if you are on the list of people barred from giving blood. There is some evidence to suggest that these abnormal prions have also been transmitted through dairy products...so it's not an open and shut case as far as detection goes. The only way they can confirm the presence of the disease is by autopsy...gruesome, I know, but not completely hopeless. I think the promise of genetic manipulation certainly does offer hope for treatment, and stem cell research is producing some amazing results with diseases that have long eluded any promise of a cure. If we can insert genes that will alter the production of proteins (and we can), then this is an ideal candidate for that type of procedure.

      http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/BloodSafety/ucm0951...

    • 10 months ago
  • Argon18
    • 0
      Argon18  
    • Incredulous:

      But by that standard anyone that has ever eaten beef or drank dairy at all would be barred from donating blood because there is no way to know if they were exposed to abnormal prions since no symptoms show up and no way to detect them.

      Beef and dairy could be tainted at anytime and shipped to any place so no one is safe from exposure and that way everyone would be rejected as blood donors

    • 10 months ago
  • lifestudentno83
    • +2
      lifestudentno83  

    • Sounds like stupid, bullheaded bureaucracy to me. If you screen all the blood you use, then why would it matter who gives it? Another law that needs to be overturned, especially if there is a shortage of blood.

      The only reason HIV/AIDS is a problem is because there isn't enough money, time and resource invested on an actual cure. Supposedly there is a cure out there but they are trying to prevent it from being released to the public. Not sure if it's true or just a rumor.

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
  • lifestudentno83
    • +1
      lifestudentno83  
    • KB723:

      Corporations wouldn't be the problem if they were in the interests of our well-beings instead of getting money. That's why there isn't a cure available; our politicians are bought and sold by them to simply give them the ability to slowly kill us all and take all our money.

      Big Pharma is nothing more than an over-inflated, high priced designer drug dealer.

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
  • larrybuckp
    • +3
      larrybuckp  

    • I stand by an earlier post, and commend HSouixZ on a well written piece. Looking again at the above post, I noticed that it states that the law was passed due to fears; that is not exactly true. It was due to reality, HIV was getting into the blood supply, people were dying. For someone to evaluate this current event, it is important to know that HIV was spreading through transfusions. Screenings made sense at that time, and still do to a degree. You will be rejected if you exhibit signs of a cold, or the flu. One thing I dislike, is that the screener not only made a judgement about his gayness, but also his honesty. If tests can determine safety of the donation, just put a notation to check it carefully. I certainly don't believe we should sue people for following the law, or making poor judgement calls in a poorly defined scenario. We should demand that the process be looked at, and we must remember that this made news because of its rarity, not because it is a rampant problem. Two people filling out a form and disagreeing about a technicality isn't national news, but it could lend insight.

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
  • meesh76
    • +2
      meesh76  

    • If blood banks were secure in their testing methods than I don't see why anyone should be turned away from donating blood. We should have come far enough, know enough information by now to understand that ANYONE can get AIDS. The old stereotypes and stigmas need to go. Racism in all forms is wrong, and that gentleman's donation could have been a lifesaver for someone who won't receive that blessing.

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
  • southrabbit
  • KB723
  • HSouixZ
    • +3
      HSouixZ  

    • If it weren't for the long incubation period of AIDS-HIV ...I would be more up in arms about this. It's a period of more than 10 years.

      It would seem to be a discriminatory action if the man was attesting that he was NOT a homosexual, and had not engaged in any male- to male sexual pattern behavior. The questionnaire for donating also eliminates people from the Island nation of Hatti, and certain African countries. And the questionnaire. also asks if you as a heterosexual engaged in risky anal sexuality. It's quite a long and through questionnaire.

      That being said, because the exclusionary questionnaire also eliminates NON homosexuals and others engaged in risky sexual behavior, the precipice for a law suit doesn't seem to be met. The discrimination may be unfortunate and uncomfortable, unpleasant...and a whole host of other "Un" things, however; its no different than saying the following:

      "You have to be this tall to ride this ride."

      It's a safety issue, and not a slam to the vertically challenged. You need to fit properly in the ride for your own safety., therefore short people don't get to ride.

      Recently, a disabled Veteran who was missing his limbs was thrown from a roller-coaster because he was not "This Tall...to ride the ride." The Veteran, who survived Iraq and Afghanistan died from being flung from a roller coaster.

      Sometimes the WHOLE is greater than the SUM of its parts.

      AIDS-HIV has an incubation period of as long as ten years, However, if this man was willing to swear to his sexual proclivity as a Heterosexual male, the phlebotomy Technician should have accepted his word.

      I just don't believe this meets the merits for a law suit because he was denied the ability to donate. Unless the Phlebotomy Tech screamed out across the room at the top of his-her lungs...:

      "THIS MAN IS A HOMOSEXUAL AND HE ISN'T ALLOWED TO DONATE BLOOD-PLASMA, AND BLOOD RELATED PRODUCTS!!!"

      ... the man wasn't damaged. Hurt...perhaps, but not damaged. In order to win a Civil Prosecution and be awarded a judgement of remuneration...you need to have damages, or be damaged.

    • 10 months ago
  • HSouixZ
    • +2
      HSouixZ  
    • HSouixZ:

      The window period is the time from infection until a test can detect any change. The average window period with HIV-1 antibody tests is 25 days for subtype B. Antigen testing cuts the window period to approximately 16 days and NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing) further reduces this period to 12 days.

      This how long the test can take to return results.

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
    • +1
      KB723  
    • HSouixZ:

      You could be quite right HSouixz, it does however bring just the whole idea of Discrimination to the kitchen table, water cooler at work, and open conversation as well... I think that the more an issue is discussed the more it loses it's Sparkle... I have actually been denied a job, in the sign and graphics industry because I did not speak Spanish, even though I was way OverQualified for the position.... Good to see you again, you have been away for a while... =)

    • 10 months ago
  • HSouixZ
    • +3
      HSouixZ  
    • HSouixZ:

      And the term I should have used was LATENCY not incubation, which is different. I am sorry for that.

      The latency stage involves few or no symptoms and can last anywhere from two weeks to twenty years or more, depending on the individual.

    • 10 months ago
  • HSouixZ
    • +2
      HSouixZ  
    • KB723:

      Thank you, it's nice to see you again too.

      I know that it seems to be discriminatory....because the young man was excluded, however ...every uncomfortable thing we experience does not a law suit make.

      Sometimes in life you're the pigeon and at other times you're the statute.

      Life isn't FAIR..life is just until you die.

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
  • nardo1224
    • +1
      nardo1224  

    • A public protest needs to be started to call attention to this hateful example of total discrimination and disregard of rights of people. Be ready to start trouble because that's the only way the media will even pay attention to it.

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
    • 0
      KB723  
    • nardo1224:

      To be Honest, I am not sure who this company was discriminating against... The person that was helping by donating or the other person that may need whatever blood, from whoever, male or female to survive...

    • 10 months ago
  • nikonwilly
    • +1
      nikonwilly  

    • It's a privet corporation and we know they are always above the law.
      Sue the bastards and if you call this a frivolous law suit than stop the frivolous judgement of others!

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
  • KB723
  • RevKen
  • KB723
  • alexandrek
  • RevKen
    • 0
      RevKen  
    • alexandrek:

      I went to your profile and see that you do not live in the United States of America. I have no idea where you are from or what you know about America. I do not understand exactly what you are trying to say in this post, but, if you are saying what it sounds like you are saying, I would take issue with your statement.

      We do have the right to free speech in this country.Perhaps you do not fully understand what that means. Free speech means that the government cannot throw a person in prison for their statements. In America rights come with responsibilities. The more precious we hold a particular right the more important the responsibilities must be adhered to.

      People need to understand that there can still be consequences when we use our rights irresponsibly. If a person uses their right to free speech and it upsets others they can be fired from their job or suffer other repercussions that have nothing to do with the government. This does not mean you cannot say something, you can, just be prepared to pay the price if what you say is inappropriate.

    • 10 months ago
  • ThirdSection
  • KB723
  • emarston
  • KB723
  • emarston
  • KB723
  • emarston
  • PIANORAMA
    • +3
      PIANORAMA  

    • It's like prosecuting parents trying to feed their own children by planting gardens in their own yards. I hope this guy feels complimented, though - "appears to be homosexual," LOL - more refined and courteous than the usual blood donors, that is. Well.

      That interviewer has some inner demons.

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
  • charliesommers
    • +3
      charliesommers  

    • If I am lying on an operating table, expiring from a shortage of blood, I will accept that life sustaining fluid from anyone willing to donate irregardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, religious preferences, etc. Even blood from ugly people will be accepted. Beauty, after all, is merely in the eyes of the beholder.

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
  • Incredulous
  • larrybuckp
  • nikonwilly
  • KB723
  • DeistofSurreal
  • KB723
  • larrybuckp
    • 0
      larrybuckp  

    • I have to disagree with many of the other comments. The blood bank people were doing their jobs. The stupidity of the 1983 law is what needs to be addressed. Testing is now a simple matter, and we understand HIV much better. For some reason, when AIDS became a reality, the Reagan administration didn't even want to treat it as an STD. Possibly to reduce the number of gays and blacks, since they were the hardest hit? I had no idea that this lunacy was still on the books, or used in this way, even though I have answered the questions when donating. This would be a good subject to address to our representatives. The only danger is that the right wing might see it as a concession to the Gay agenda.

    • 10 months ago
  • timetide
    • +2
      timetide  

    • Okay not to sound pissy but ya, I leanred this the hard way in high school when I tried donating blood. we also have extreme restrictions on bone marrow and organ donations. this has happened every day since1977 to every gay and bi man in america. if we want to donate blood we have to lie and lie and lie. why is it when it was just discrimination against homosexuals nobody talked about it, but now that a straight man was discriminated against it becomes a news article?

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
    • +1
      KB723  
    • timetide:

      I think it is Best as a news Article... Discrimination of all sorts has been out of control, and I thank you for this comment, as you have stated things I never knew, Thanks timetide... =)

    • 10 months ago
  • hopingforlight
  • Swisher
    • +3
      Swisher  

    • This is sanctioned discrimination whether gay or not. Labeling someone gay does not mean they behave irresponsibly, as this policy suggests.

    • 10 months ago
  • totally_dilapidated
  • KB723
  • p122345
  • KB723
  • Johnny_Los_Angeles
  • KB723
  • mickyjon420
  • KB723
  • mickyjon420
  • KB723
  • mickyjon420
  • KB723
  • mickyjon420
  • galwayman
    • +3
      galwayman  

    • This is Insane! AIDS? You can bet that the blood of someone who is long term homeless has more germs in it then the blood of someone who is gay!

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
  • EmperorThan
  • KB723
  • wynnmeg61
  • eden49
  • Incredulous
  • Incredulous
  • wynnmeg61
    • +4
      wynnmeg61  

    • Absolutely ridiculous. HIV/Aids rates are rising much faster in the "Heterosexual" communities than in the Gay community. Plus can you really believe every man who adamantly claims to be straight ..... not like we don't find out often enough that many of those shouting out how "Straight" they are turn out to be repressed gay men. I mean really folks. Give me a break

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
  • wynnmeg61
  • KB723
  • wynnmeg61
  • KB723
  • wynnmeg61
  • KB723
  • warman1138
    • +1
      warman1138  

    • What a bunch of morons,whats next little pamphlets and other propoganda(like the nazis used)to tell who's what? Somebody tries to do a good deed and gets rejected over the opinion of a moron.

    • 10 months ago
  • KB723
  • warman1138
  • KB723
  • warman1138
  • DeistofSurreal
  • Frosty46
  • KB723
  • DeistofSurreal
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