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I'm not allowed to donate blood...

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Bubba-Snax
Posts: 541 - Karma: 11
... because I'm gay.

I went to donate blood the other day for the first time. On the questionnaire it asked me if i have ever engaged in sexual activity with somebody of the same sex. On the back of the paper work it clearly states "Do not donate blood if you: are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977".  When i asked the nurse about it she told me no that it was law.They cannot take my blood because of who I am.

I have always been safe, even my first time, and i have gotten tested regularly when i could afford it. The premiss of this law is that AIDS and HIV is prevalent in the gay community. I have always been responsible and have never been at a higher risk of contraction or spreading than any other sexually active heterosexual. So what i want to know is, why is my blood no better than any other straight persons? Is it somehow dirty?

It really hurt me and pissed me off. All i wanted to do was something good for my community because i known I'm a universal donor. Living in NY I thought things were getting better, especially after gay marriage was legalized. So how can a law like this still exist?

/rant.

spark notes: I'm gay and it's illegal for gay individuals to donate blood.

inb4: cool story bro, tl;dr, gtfo gay boy, somehow "pee in her butt"??

Jan 26 2012 7:25PM
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Bubba-Snax
Posts: 541 - Karma: 11
btw i search barred and didn't find anything. sorry if it's a repost.
Jan 26 2012 7:26PM
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jorb.co
Posts: 2581 - Karma: 468
that's fucking stupid. but whatever dude, i guess they don't need your blood. It's gonna be that nurse that gets hit by a car on the way home and bleeds to death or something.
How can they even tell though, if you just said you weren't gay? that's what i would do.
Jan 26 2012 7:29PM
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JakeAssBeatClap
Posts: 6673 - Karma: 2,537
Funny similar thing happened to me. I went in to donate blood and they asked me "Have you ever peed in a girl's butt?"

And I said "Of course I have."

Then they said "Welp sorry but you can't donate blood."

Then I was like "Oh well in that case..."

The I jumped up flipped the nurse around and peed in her butt.
Jan 26 2012 7:29PM
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Pisces
Posts: 905 - Karma: 13
My mom works for the Red Cross and I have asked her about this while doing a project on donating blood. It seems to be one of those laws that was put in place way back when it was necessary, and hasn't really been revised in years. Homosexual intercourse IS statistically more prone to STDs, in particular HIV and AIDS because of lack of condom use, however in general male-on-male is no more dangerous than a heterosexual relationship. If you are seriously hurt by this, write your local congressman (assuming he's not a huge conservative) and explain the situation and that you would like the law to be revised. Do everything in your power to make a change.
Jan 26 2012 7:35PM
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SeanTom
Posts: 7936 - Karma: 1,747
i feel like i've read an article about this saying the law was ridiculously outdated and in need of reform. But that's unfortunate man.
Jan 26 2012 7:35PM
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Ribss.
Posts: 3442 - Karma: 3,344
well, i laughed.
Jan 26 2012 7:38PM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,846
i cannot donate blood either:    since im on immunosuppressant medication
Jan 26 2012 7:42PM
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Flying~Squirrel
Posts: 6494 - Karma: 192
NO MORE GAY BABIES
Jan 26 2012 7:42PM
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207
Posts: 8969 - Karma: 3,846
i cant donate either coz my blood is taintPr
Jan 26 2012 7:46PM
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Aomame
Posts: 281 - Karma: 480
it' not cause you're gay, it's cause you've had sex with another man. yes, gay people do that, no fucking kidding. but if a straight guy had sex with a man, he wouldn't be allowed to donate either. why would a straight guy do that? i have no clue. but if it did happen, he couldn't donate either. it's a legal technicality.

regardless, thats bullshit, blood is blood and they can check for any issues.
Jan 26 2012 7:49PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,240
or because you're 5'2" and that a pint of blood is probably 50% of all the blood in your body
Jan 26 2012 7:50PM
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FBGM
Posts: 8184 - Karma: 2,677
That's dumb. They test the blood anyway....
Jan 26 2012 7:53PM
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207
Posts: 8969 - Karma: 3,846
im actually 5'7 now and nahhz, i didn't fit the donor requirements i'll let you figure out which onPr
Jan 26 2012 7:53PM
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NotGhood
Posts: 2809 - Karma: 1,255
im going to hell but i completely lost my shit

also vibes OP homophobes and the laws they create are stupid
even if it was necessary when it was put into place theres no reason why it hasnt been revised since then
screw society
Jan 26 2012 7:54PM
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stickerz
Posts: 241 - Karma: 51
I'm not allowed to donate blood because I lived in Europe when Mad Cow was an issue. It also seems a bit over the top.
Jan 26 2012 7:57PM
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EricaMN.
Posts: 2704 - Karma: 347
bahahahahahaha
Jan 26 2012 7:58PM
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connory998
Posts: 1197 - Karma: 34
I fucking hate it when people think this way. It is not the nurses fault hes not allowed to give blood, so why give her shit for it? Same as cops, she is just enforcing the rules, not creating them.


But anyways, that is a ridiculous law.
Jan 26 2012 8:01PM
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Joebin
Posts: 1664 - Karma: 867
I cant donate blood either because I have VaughWillebrans. I honestly have no clue how the fuck it is spelled. Basically My blood has a deficiency of platelets so if I get cut the wound wont clot as fast as it should. Your story is different though. I know that something as simple as donating blood isnt a very big deal to most people but when they tell you that youre not allowed to something because of life decisions probably infuriates you.
Jan 26 2012 8:01PM
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Raz.
Posts: 7456 - Karma: 1,611
Same bud, and it hit me hard. My life was saved by a blood donor when I was young, and have always wanted to pass that on, but when the time came to give blood they turned me away.
Jan 26 2012 8:06PM
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ryano
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 1,535
i lol'd
Jan 26 2012 8:06PM
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Petey.
Posts: 5736 - Karma: 4,885
Yeah that other guy's right - It's not because you're gay, it's cause you fuck guys.
Jan 26 2012 8:10PM
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ryano
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 1,535
hahahahaha. but this is a true statement.
Jan 26 2012 8:11PM
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p-fo
Posts: 9372 - Karma: 6,155
The reason is that HIV/AIDS first appeared in the American gay community, and has hit it much harder than heterosexuals in general. I remember the reason being with anal tearing, which makes transmission MUCH easier. I think it is kinda outdated at this point though.
Jan 26 2012 8:16PM
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sherwood4099
Posts: 1173 - Karma: 22
I agree it's a completely archaic law but how is it the nurses fault?
Jan 26 2012 8:19PM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
That is so fucking ridiculous that they wont let you.

I would bet that straight people have just as much unprotected sex as gay people.
Jan 26 2012 8:21PM
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Bubba-Snax
Posts: 541 - Karma: 11
Hahahaaha!!! thank you, i knew NS wouldn't let me down.

and yea i wouldn't want to take it out on the nurse. she was actually really nice and i could tell she felt bad about it.
Jan 26 2012 8:21PM
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stalefish.
Posts: 464 - Karma: 79
you tried too hard. fail.
Jan 26 2012 8:24PM
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CheddarJack
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 7,380
Ehhh my vote goes to a fail on your part
Jan 26 2012 8:34PM
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las.
Posts: 1959 - Karma: 1,455
Only in america
Jan 26 2012 8:34PM
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squibble
Posts: 4569 - Karma: 104
they'll look at stats and the stats will tell them not to take blood from gay people. don't take it so personally. whats your blood type anywho
Jan 26 2012 8:35PM
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henrytargett
Posts: 903 - Karma: 35
sue dude. that law possibly could be overturned by your local, state or even (if you're lucky) supreme court!

about 10 years ago they struck down a law against sodomy in texas.
Jan 26 2012 8:37PM
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jayo.
Posts: 5015 - Karma: 34
Shouldn't they just test to see if you have HIV/AIDS and base their decision on that?
Jan 26 2012 8:41PM
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stalefish.
Posts: 464 - Karma: 79
? great
Jan 26 2012 8:41PM
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derpina
Posts: 2186 - Karma: 55
You're taking it way too personally. They're trying to limit any chance of HIV/AIDS and trying to save their own asses from being sued, etc. It's the same way they might not take certain black people's blood because of a chance of Sickle Cell Anemia...

Just gotta let it go dude...
Jan 26 2012 8:53PM
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Nathn
Posts: 2408 - Karma: 63
Kinda fucked up but it's way easier to get AIDS through anal and people are less likely to use protection. I'm sure it's nothing personal, people aren't going to not except blood that could save someone's life just because of a lifestyle choice.



Jan 26 2012 8:58PM
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Nathn
Posts: 2408 - Karma: 63
Yep definitely the nurse that said "I'm not taking your blood, you're gay"
Jan 26 2012 9:00PM
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3dressedupasa9
Posts: 445 - Karma: 113
How could this really be a repost?
Jan 26 2012 9:03PM
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Obi-Wan-Jenobi
Posts: 951 - Karma: 119
Not really if the blood has a high chance of being HIV positive then why spend tax payers money to test it then throw it away.
Jan 26 2012 9:06PM
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Bubba-Snax
Posts: 541 - Karma: 11
^^^ idk, figured it might be in some other thread about gay rights or something. like i know i saw a video about gay marriage in Iowa a while back.

and im type O- which is the universal donor and apparently its kind of rare. i found out in a bio class where we all got tested for our blood types.
Jan 26 2012 9:09PM
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Uncle.Badness
Posts: 2545 - Karma: 55
I could be completely wrong, but I'm pretty sure that the amount of heterosexuals who have HIV or full blown AIDS compared homosexuals is about even. Therefore shouldn't all people who have had sex be prohibited from donating blood...?
Jan 26 2012 9:12PM
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FBGM
Posts: 8184 - Karma: 2,677
Because they test all of the blood anyway...
Jan 26 2012 9:19PM
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Raz.
Posts: 7456 - Karma: 1,611
well actually, thats sort of exactly whay happenned to me...
Jan 26 2012 9:19PM
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skithebert
Posts: 2163 - Karma: 16
wonder how this works in the military now with the end of don't ask don't tell
Jan 26 2012 9:21PM
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MLeone
Posts: 725 - Karma: 72
Damn man sorry they did that to you.. really fucked up. :(
Jan 26 2012 9:22PM
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Nathn
Posts: 2408 - Karma: 63
Was it just because of policy tho? Or was she actually discriminating
Jan 26 2012 9:26PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,123
actually statistically yes you are.

Anyways this law was not put in place to discriminate against gay people. It was to protect people from contracting HIV through blood transfusions. Back when they came up with this law HIV was ALMOST exclusively prevalent in the gay community. At the time they were also not as good as detecting HIV, especially if an individual was recently infected.

It's for this same reason that you can not donate blood if you have ever used non-prescribed intravenous drugs. Sure you can do it safely if you never share a needle, but to be safer they just say that no one can donate blood.

There is new talk about lifting this ban, because of advancements in blood screening and because of changes in demographics (correct term?). Many places have already lifted the ban, or changed the ban to MSM contact in the past year (because after a year, we can almost 100% detect HIV).

Stop trying to make this into a discrimination issue, because it is not. If they could take blood from this population without raising the risk of HIV transmission, they would (and as I have stated before, there is lots of current research as to whether or not they can now).

I have heard of blood drives at universities being shut down because of protest to this issue. What have these people accomplished here? Even LESS blood got donated because people tried to make this into an issue.

Jan 26 2012 9:29PM
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Bubba-Snax
Posts: 541 - Karma: 11
That had to hurt so bad. Im sorry to hear. At least the one i talked to was sympathetic and tried to tell me in as nice of a way as she could.

And Ali Gee, try and have somebody tell you that you can't do something simply because your blonde or brunette, then you try and not to take something personally. Its like everybody ells has said, i cant imagine they don't test the blood anyways so what difference does it make?
Jan 26 2012 9:29PM
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Raz.
Posts: 7456 - Karma: 1,611
no, she was a redneck bitch, as is everyone where I'm from. at the time, I hadn't even had sex or anything at all.
Jan 26 2012 10:53PM
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squibble
Posts: 4569 - Karma: 104
read the thread fool. money. stats. not discriminatory.

also I know lots of gay people so don't even try that angle on me
Jan 26 2012 10:57PM
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NSwidow
Posts: 888 - Karma: 3,222
Don't take it personally. It's not a personal attack on gays, it's a precaution. I think they should just check the blood, if clear of any health issues, it should be donated. If not, then no. It's not like they're like "Ew! he's gay, hell no, he can't donate." It's just that gay men are at higher risk. It is what it is. People who've had a tattoo within X amount of time can't donate, people with a cold can't donate...t's not that think tattooed people are lesser people, its just that their blood is risky. End of story. Don't be offended. It's nice to want to help people, and it's sad that they say you can't, but you're making something out of nothing. What you're saying the reason is, isn't the reason at all.
Jan 26 2012 11:08PM
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