Posted on 07/11/2014 9:48:10 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
•Men who have sex with other men have been banned from donating blood by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 1977.
•According to the CDC, gay and bisexual men accounted for 63 percent of new HIV infections in 2010.
Universities across the country are hosting a National Gay Blood Drive today to encourage the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to change its current policies which prevent gay men from donating blood.
According to the FDA’s website, men who have sex with other men (MSM) have an increased risk for HIV, hepatitis B and other types of infections that can be transmitted by transfusion.
Activists have pushed for gay men to be able to donate blood for the past several years. In 2010, a government health committee heard testimonies and reviewed the policy, but ultimately recommended keeping the ban and researching alternative policies.
The University of Cincinnati’s Hoxworth Blood Center, Lane Community College in Oregon, and Western Michigan University are several of the sites for the blood drive, which encourages gay and bisexual men in the community to bring friends and family to donate blood as their proxies.
Josh Neumeyer, coordinator for the Hoxworth blood drive, told Campus Reform that he used to donate blood regularly in college but hasn’t been able to since he became sexually active as a gay man.
“I would gladly [give blood] again,” Neumeyer said in an interview. “But at the end of the day, it will be up to the FDA who makes the final decision with the policy.”
However, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a national public health institute, says that gay and bisexual men are more severely affected by HIV than any other group in the United States.
According to the CDC, gay and bisexual men accounted for 63 percent of new HIV infections in 2010. From 2008 to 2010, new HIV infections increased 22 percent among gay and bisexual men between the ages of 13 to 24. Overall, new HIV infections increased 12 percent among men of all ages between those years.
Dr. Ronald Sacher, director of the Hoxworth Blood Center, claims that in the past 37 years screening practices for safe blood has improved.
“It’s quite apparent that over the years, with the improvement of the safety of the blood supply, that perhaps these policies need to be revisited, and that’s the momentum to re-look at the policies,” he told WCPO Cincinnati.
Sacher recommends—along with America’s Blood Centers, AABB, and the American Red Cross—that the FDA changes their indefinite ban on homosexual men to a 12-month deferral period. This deferral period would be the same as for those who have an increased sexual behavior.
Activists have pushed for gay men to be able to donate blood for the past several years. In 2010, a government health committee heard testimonies and reviewed the policy, but ultimately recommended keeping the ban and researching alternative policies.
Those at the blood drive today will be given the opportunity to sign a petition against the FDA’s policy which will be sent to the White House.
BRD in a bag
I’ll participate as soon as I finish organizing the Hep-C+ Liver Donor Network.
The push is on to advance “AIDS” rights. They seek to overturn laws that require those with AIDS from notifying their sex partners and kids.
AIDS Pride and all that.
From International Federation of Planned Parenthood
http://www.ippf.org/resource/Healthy-Happy-and-Hot-young-peoples-guide-rights
“A guide for young people living with HIV to help them understand their sexual rights”
“Sexual and reproductive rights are recognized around the world as human rights - Every person living with HIV is entitled to these rights and they are necessary for the development and well-being of all people and the societies in which they live.”
“Young people living with HIV may feel that sex is just not an option, but don’t worry — many young people living with HIV live healthy, fun, happy and sexually fulfi lling lives. You can too, if you want to! Things get easier (and sex can get even better) as you become more comfortable with your status.”
“This guide is here to support your sexual pleasure and health, and to help you develop strong intimate relationships. It explores how your human rights and sexual well-being are related and suggests strategies to help you
make decisions about dating, relationships, sex and parenthood. It explores the rights of young people living with HIV to:
• express and enjoy their sexuality (page 3)
• decide if, when, and how to disclose their
HIV status (page 5)
• experience sexual pleasure (page 7)
• take care of their sexual health (page 9)
• practise safer sex (page 11)
• choose if, when, how many, and with whom
to have children (page 13)
• access support and services that respect
their dignity, autonomy, privacy and
well-being (page 15)
Once again trying desperately to push GRIDS into the normal community.
Why can’t the faggots just keep their perversion in the closet?
(Yes, I know, the second law of homosexuality applies)
The hospital where I was scheduled to have the surgery informed me I could opt to receive blood from the local blood bank or I could donate my own prior to surgery and my own blood would be used.
I got over my fear of needles in my arm and donated my own blood for my surgery. I had to wait an extra 6 days to have the surgery because I donated my own blood (needed time to replenish naturally) however it was well worth it knowing the blood I was receiving (mine) was clean of diseases.
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