Posted on 07/15/2013 2:41:42 PM PDT by dontreadthis
After Marshall Duer-Balkind, 30, exited a blood donation center on Friday morning, he held up a long green form as evidence that he had been rejected as a blood donor.
On the form Duer-Balkind pointed out that section that disqualified him from being a blood donor because of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy that bans men who have sex with men from giving blood.
After Duer-Balkind showed the form to two volunteers from the National Gay Blood Drive demonstration, the volunteers pulled out a red ink pad and stamped Rejected on his forearm.
The stamp was proof that Duer-Balkind had taken part in a nationwide demonstration to protest the FDA policy, which bans men who have sex with men from donating blood, since they are considered at a higher risk for having HIV.
I think its an absolutely ridiculous and antiquated policy, said Duer-Balkind, who had come to participate in the demonstration during a vacation in New York.
There were more than 50 demonstrations planned as part of the National Gay Blood Drive in various U.S. cities on Friday. The drive was planned to help draw attention to the number of potential blood donors who are automatically disqualified due to their sexual orientation. In addition to men who have sex with men, women are disqualified from giving blood if within the last 12 months they have had sex with a man who at any point since 1977 has sex with another man.
(Excerpt) Read more at bighealthreport.com ...
In the instance of severe trauma, the ER isn't going to delve into your wishes to use only blood you donated at such-and-such clinic, they'll just grab the most expedient batch that is your match at the emergency facility you are taken to. Also, there is thawing time needed to make ready for the transfusion, and in an emergency, the medical team might not have that luxury.
Better to insist that the be blood supply reasonably remain free of all at-risk donations, such as homos.
Ryan White... one of the first nationally reported deaths was that young man that suffered hemophilia. I just remembered him when I read your post. This “taint the blood supply” agenda is evil at its base core.
LLS
AIDS for all placemark.
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