Students Tap New Vein of Gay Issue

LA Times ^ | 15 July 2005 | Steven Bodzin

[Aussie Dasher]

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 ill 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.

[Aussie Dasher]

There they go again...Public health V. "gay rights"...and the winner is?

[maro]

People who disagree with this policy should set up their own blood banks, and offer patients a choice. Liberal patients would be free to back up their blather with a decision to take the other kind of blood.

[D.P.Roberts]

"They say that the policy, originally intended to keep HIV-positive blood from entering the nation's blood supply, implies gay men are inherently ill"

Well, DUH!!

[marmar]

Gee....I was stationed in the UK for a 1 1/2 years and I am not allowed to give blood. I am extremely healthy, but because of the fear of mad cow disease, I can't give blood. I want to, I just am not allowed to.

[LasVegasMac]

Occasional protests and talks with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which oversees blood banks, have brought no change

And that is the way it needs to stay.

I wonder what they would say if told they can only get blood transfusions from other gays?

LVM

[NativeNewYorker]

let's ask Hillary what she thinks.

[Echo Talon]

What a bunch of retards. Why should a high risk group WANT to donate blood? Do you want to kill other people? I cant give blood because I take medication for epilepsy and I don't feel disenfranchised in any way. Hell i have to take enough blood test as it is, getting sick of needles.

[tophat9000]

Students Tap New Vein of Gay Issue

Tap New Vein?...No double entendre there

[dhs12345]

But no, remember that the rules that apply to the rest of us don't apply to them.

[dhs12345]

"Do you want to kill other people?"

They don't care. They are more concerned about their "rights."

[Dan from Michigan]

Where's that Sam Kinison skit about AIDS again? It should be required listening to these jokers.

[dhs12345]

Wonder if iv drug users are allow to give blood?

[Tax-chick]

Hell I have to take enough blood test as it is, getting sick of needles.

I know how you feel, to an extent. I'm pregnant every other year.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

LOLOLOLOLOL

[sofaman]

If you are from Africa, you can't donate blood either. But I object...as a true minority, I want equal status. This reeks of discrimination. As a White African American Orthodox Jew, I demand my rights as a double minority.

Besides the fact that it is extremely confusing to celebrate Kwansaa and Chanukkah at the same time. The looks I get as I light my Menorrah at the Kwansaa festival....if looks could kill????

[Tax-chick]

Can't give blood, either ... it would wreak havoc on the recipients' hormone levels.

[ican'tbelieveit]

I think you should protest, have press releases, and hold high level talks. :-)

[sofaman]

You need to take up a hobby...or buy a TV...

[sofaman]

If you are from Africa, you can't donate blood either. But I object...as a true minority, I want equal status. This reeks of discrimination. As a White African American Orthodox Jew, I demand my rights as a double minority.

Besides the fact that it is extremely confusing to celebrate Kwansaa and Chanukkah at the same time. The looks I get as I light my Menorrah at the Kwansaa festival....if looks could kill????

[Tax-chick]

My husband just bought a new truck. Maybe that will help.

[Cowboy Bob]

Let the Queers donate blood...under one condition: Only Democrats or Liberals are allowed to receive the blood in transfusion.

[Echo Talon]

I know how you feel, to an extent. I'm pregnant every other year.

Bless ya! How many do ya have?

[anniegetyourgun]

The world needs more new conservatives!

[RichInOC]

Students Tap New Vein of Gay Issue

All right, who's the joker who wrote that headline?

[sofaman]

Whoops..I hiccuped

[sofaman]

ROFL

[mlmr]

I thought that HIV is not detected for a few months after infection, and this was the reason that homosexual blood is not safe.

[marmar]

Well, ya know....it is said you should pick your battles, wisely......this isn't worth the battle....

[dhs12345]

This whole thing is silly. BR>
I suspect that some gays are more reasonable and don't care or understand. Too bad we don't hear from them.

[brooklin]

Groucho Marx had an outtake on one of his shows where he was interviewing a woman who had alot of kids. He asked her how come and she said that she loved her husband very much. He replied that he loved his cigars, but that he didn't smoke them all the time... or something to that effect. ;)

[sofaman]

Groucho was the king of the one liner...

[Tax-chick]

Expecting the 8th in February. How are you feeling?

[paul in cape]

I remember.. LOL funny, and right on!

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

My dad has a pacemaker and isn't allowed to give blood anymore. 'Risk of him getting infection around the pacemaker' was their reason. AND he's white, farmer, never been to Africa, europe veteran, drives a truck...Oh, the humanity......

[Clock King]

Why should a high risk group WANT to donate blood?

How else could they prove, "Anybody can get AIDS!"

[Tax-chick]

It's funny how men can imply that babies are the woman's fault :-).

[Tax-chick]

That's what we think! I worked the polls in the primaries and general election last year with all the kids, and this fall we'll be working on reorganizing our precinct (once I get over the nausea :-).

[Blood of Tyrants]

Smoking or non-smoking? Paper or plastic? Gamble with your health and take blood from a gay or safe blood?

It would be as empty as the special fund that Gov. Huckabee of Arkansas set up so people who thought that the state income tax ought to be raised could voluntarily donate money.

[diamond6]

These people are truly sick in the head. I can't even imagine why something like this is important to them. Aren't there other things these people care about.

Stupid question. Never mind.

[Fledermaus]

"Tap new vein"...poor choice of words! lol

[staterightsfirst]

This is ridiculous. The issue with blood isn't with the people who identify themselves as 'gay,' the problem is with those who participate in risky behavior.

Men who have sex with men, injection drug users, people who are involved with/have participated in commercial sex are all subgroups of the population that have MUCH higher AIDS/HIV prevalence than the rest of the population. Therefore, we don't use their blood. However, a legitimately abstinent gay man can give blood. So all these people need to calm down and shut up. It's not what you are that disqualifies you, it's what you do.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

People who disagree with this policy should set up their own blood banks, and offer patients a choice. Liberal patients would be free to back up their blather with a decision to take the other kind of blood.

Exactly!

[Echo Talon]

WOW! 8 Kids? Whew! I thought my Mom was busy with 4 of us growing up. Yea im feeling ok, meds keep everything A-ok.

[trebb]

I got back from Italy in July of 1980; the cutoff for donating bllod is June of 1980. 26 years with no mad cow symptoms and I can't donate blood because I missed the deadline by about 2 weeks.

[bboop]

The winner is NOT the public.

[SaveTheChief]

So let me see if I get this straight. Students, who are all so wise, are making the tainting of the blood supply a civil rights issue?

[Little Bill]

What about those that check line 30 on Mass Form 1, to pay at the 5.8% tax rate, rather than the lower 5.3 rate. Neither John F'n nor fat boy seem to do that.

[Tax-chick]

I'm glad you're doing well. Worse than not being able to donate blood would be needing transfusions!

[Lorianne]

Lots of people are not allowed to give blood, including those who have travelled to certain countries. Are they discriminating against travellers?

[little jeremiah]

later pingout.