Persson: let gay men give blood

The Local ^ | July 21 | AFP

[Bushwacker777]

"Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson has said that gay men should be allowed to give blood or donate organs, in an interview published on Thursday.

Men who have had sex with other men are banned from giving blood or donating organs in many countries, including the United States, because their sexual habits are deemed to increase the risk of spreading the HIV/AIDS virus."

[muawiyah]

Duh

[Tax-chick]

Let 'em donate blood to you, Prime Minister.

[greydog]

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration justifies its ban by saying that "there is scientific justification for screening out all potential donors who are men who have had sex, even once, with another man".

Too bad the FDA doesn't control screening at airports.

[Bushwacker777]

Mr. Persson doesn't even have a college education. He also served as the head of education in Sweden a few years back.

ANd Euros like to mock the USA?

[Past Your Eyes]

The day that happens is the end of my giving blood, other than a directed donation.

[YOUGOTIT]

Dumb, Dumb or is he another who wants to spread AIDS?

[saneright]

Unbelievable that we are even having this conversation.

How quickly we forget all the people in the 1980's who contracted HIV because of donated blood.

Remember Ryan White? He was the teenager who became HIV positive through a blood transfusion and eventually died of AIDS.

He was trotted around the country by so called activists to show us all that not all persons with AIDS were gay men. I specifically remember that filthy scumbag Elton John exploiting him. More than likely a homosexual man's donated blood that ended up in his blood system which directly caused his death.

[saneright]

Waht I meant to write was that more than likely it was a homosexuals dontaed blood that ended up in his system which directly caused his death.

[Jim Noble]

because their sexual habits are deemed to increase the risk of spreading the HIV/AIDS virus

An interesting way to put it, although I imagine translations from Swedish are difficult.

You would not say, "People are asked not to jump off the Empire State Building because pavement is deemed to be hard", would you?

[saneright]

I give up. My spelling sucks. I need more sleep.

[The Phantom FReeper]

While donated blood is screened for antibodies to HIV, there is always a period of time during which the virus can be in an individual's system, but antibodies to the virus have not yet been formed. That means that there is still, despite tests performed on the blood supply, a risk of contracting HIV (or any of a number of other diseases) from a blood transfusion will always exist. Having taken this into account, and the fact that gay men have such a high risk of contracting HIV due to anal sex, the FDA's ban on donations of blood by gay men is a prudent decision, and very necessary.

That some folks want their perverted sexuality to be affirmed, glorified, and portrayed as not being high-risk does not mean that others should have to take the chance of being affected by that behavior.

[SubMareener]

That is why there is a "Spell" button next to the "Preview" and "Post" buttons!

[G.Mason]

"I give up. My spelling sucks. I need more sleep.

Buck up, it isn't whether you give up, but if we give up.

I'm not a quitter and I have heard no complaining, besides the spell checkers are prolly still sleeping. ;)

[Brilliant]

Let them try it.

[Graymatter]

spell checkers are prolly still sleeping.

I never sleep. But I overlook a lot! :)

[mewzilla]

Gee, should all of us who have a Mad Moo deferment be allowed to give blood, too?

[G.Mason]

" I never sleep. But I overlook a lot! :)"

And don't think that is not appreciated. ;)

[Mad Mammoth]

Perhaps the FDA needs to specify that ANY individual that has traveled to, from or resided in Sweden will be permanently banned from giving blood anywhere within the Continental U.S., territories, and possessions, and that NO blood products which may have originated in, traveled through, or temporarily stored in Sweden may be used for any purpose whatsoever by any U.S. health facility or licensed medical practitioner.

How do you like THAT, eh Prime Minister Persson?

[labette]

Let 'em donate blood to you, Prime Minister.

A good idea. Maybe our liberals will get in line behind him to show their compassion and support.