Posted on 07/13/2005 4:05:47 AM PDT by Dane
Gay men should be able to donate blood, students say College group pressures Red Cross
By STEVEN BODZIN Los Angeles Times July 11. 2005 8:06AM
WASHINGTON - For more than a decade, gay rights advocates have grumbled about a federal policy that forbids blood donation by men who have had sex with men.
They say that the policy, originally intended to keep HIV-positive blood from entering the nation's blood supply, implies gay men are inherently sick and that it prevents healthy people from donating.
Occasional protests and talks with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which oversees blood banks, have brought no change.
Now, some college students have taken up the cause, and they're taking a new tack. Instead of pressuring the FDA directly, they are going after the American Red Cross - the largest and highest-profile blood collector in the country.
Unlike America's Blood Centers, which represents the non-Red Cross blood banks that collect most of the nation's blood, the Red Cross publicly supports the policy. Activists say that if they can get the Red Cross to change its stance, the FDA will follow.
While many gay rights advocates have treated the blood ban as a low priority, college groups have begun to take on the issue. They argue that, although safe blood supplies are essential, this particular policy is outdated, ineffective and homophobic.
(Excerpt) Read more at concordmonitor.com ...
"Doesn't the Red Cross test all the blood for HIV anyway? If that's the case, why would it be a bad thing for homosexuals to donate blood?"
I read somewhere that the average life expectancy of the american homosexual is about 42 years. No thank you for the blood and the increased needle stick transmission risk placed upon the collectors.
Instead of fighting to give blood they should be lobbying for private social security accounts that can be passed on to significant others. Very few gay men ever draw social security.
This is a silly and dangerous issue.
"There are several cases on record where men and women who have contracted AIDS have been known to go out and practice unsafe sex as payback for their own having contracted it."
I've also heard such stories. And these people actually want me to feel SORRY for them? This is beyond selfish -- it is criminal. Of course,I bet these college students see them as victims.
Frankly, I wouldn't want these students giving blood, either. Maybe idiocy can be passed on through a transfusion.
People who have visited the UK over the past 7 years are also not allowed to donate blood, because of possible exposure to "mad cow" disease.
Sure, let them donate blood and mark it clearly to make sure it's only given to gay men needing transfusions. Simple solution.
A person can eat a big Mac, smoke, and not exercise and still have be much healthier than the average gay man. This is unreal...
Maybe the "Hollywood" liberals would line up... Will they walk the walk or just talk the talk? (Hint: they're bull-hitters)
Good point. What's the point of these rules if you can't enforce them? His ass should be in jail for endangering the lives of others.
If we cave and permit this, shut the door on the American Experiment, for it will have officially ended.
Absolutely right, not to mention any number of other infections. If you mix feces with blood, you cannot come up with untainted blood. It's really pretty simple!!
Clinton allowed prisoners to give blood in Ark. And sent the blood to Canada, nice!!!
It irks me when I hear homosexuals complaining about this because if they truly wanted to help they could volunteer at the Blood Bank, donate money or something.
Fago-terrorists.
That was the point I was trying to make, but I guess I didn't make myself clear.
One false negative will kill three people.
One false negative SHALL kill three people.
Blood recalls due to test failure is not unusual.
Keeping specific groups from donating blood is not PC it is a matter of life and death.
These college kids are willing to kill three people to satisfy their homosexual normalization whim. Will they pay for the legal defense of the blood band? Will they demand their names be place as defendants on the INEVITABLE wrongful death lawsuit? No.
band=bank
True. But then, you can have false negatives with anyone, not just homosexuals.
Woof! Woof!
[quote]They argue that, although[color=blue] safe blood supplies are essential[/color], this particular policy is outdated, ineffective and homophobic.[/quote]
They contradict themselves? Even the homosexuals realize AIDS infection rates are highest amongst themselves? No secret, nevertheless, It is wise that the Red Cross not accept blood donations from this college.
If Gay men want to be able to donate blood, they should stop sticking their private parts up other mens' private parts and vice versa. Screw the stigma; it makes wonderful sense to me.
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