For medical reasons this is not good, as the probability that homosexuals have infections, including today unknown infections, is higher than in groups that today can give blood. Note, this is based on statistics not on individuals.
This is a political decision that might jeopardize lives.
Another good reason for banking ones own blood for the future. That is possible, right?
But who is to say I answered, or anyone else for that matter, gay or straight answers all these questions honestly?
What if I from 1980 through 1996 spent time that adds up to three (3) months or more in the United Kingdom but I answer “No”? Is the Red Cross or other blood donation orgs. going to check my passport? What if I had sexual contact with anyone who was born in or lived in Africa but I answer No? How do they know that I am answering this question honestly?
How do they know for sure that as a female that I never had sexual contact with anyone who has ever used needles to take drugs or steroids, or anything not prescribed by their doctor? What if I had had sexual contact with a boyfriend (or husband) who was taking steroids via needles but I didn’t know?
How do they know that I didn’t get an embarrassing tattoo or a body piercing in a private area in the last year or that once during my misspent youth many years ago, I was in juvenile detention, lockup, jail, or prison for more than 72 hours? Are they going to check my criminal or juvy record? Are they going to strip search me for recent tattoos?
What if I am a gay man who passes for straight, i.e. doesn’t broadcast “flaming queen” and I answer “No” to the question “Since 1977 had sexual contact with another male, even once?” If I answer “No”, what was to stop me from donating blood even before the revised prohibition from “even once” to “in the last 12 months”?
In other words the questionnaires were and are still completely voluntarily and depend on the honesty of the donor so this IMO doesn’t really change much of anything.
IIRC, one of the ways the Red Cross encourages honesty on the questionnaire is to allow someone who answered “Yes” to any of the potentially “embarrassing” questions that might prevent them from donating, especially in a workplace blood drive, is to go through the process of having the blood drawn but having their blood labeled “do not use” with a code that is only decipherable and understandable to the Red Cross. This prevents someone the embarrassment of having to explain to co-workers or their employer why they were not able to donate. The blood in this case is disposed of and not used.
While not perhaps 100% reliable, FWIW all blood donations are tested for HIV and other blood born diseases like Hepatitis B and C and West Nile.
http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/what-happens-donated-blood/blood-testing
I understand the concern regarding gay men donating blood but to be honest, if you read through the blood donation questionnaire, it is not only sexually active gay men you have to be concerned about donating blood.
The best way IMO to ensure a good supply of usable and “clean” blood to those who need it, is for healthy, clean living individuals, those without health conditions and risk factors that prohibit it and who can answer the questionnaire honestly (and yes I’m talking to you my fellow FReepers) is to donate blood and donate often.
Donating blood is pretty much painless and only takes about 30 minutes.
If this 17 year old teenage girl can donate blood, what is your excuse for not doing it?
Donating Blood for the First Time
Someone who’s life was saved because of blood donations:
Why donate blood? The Story of Molly Moses
Quite frankly, I don’t want to hear from people who have never even tried, not even once to donate blood or would never consider donating, complaining about the blood supply.
“F.D.A. Lifting Ban on Gay Blood Donors”
What could possibly go wrong. . .