Posted on 12/31/2014 9:29:41 AM PST by NetAddicted
Photo: GARO/PHANIE/Corbis The Food and Drug Administration recommended changes to a 31-year-old ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men Tuesday, instead suggesting that potential male donors should have abstained from same-sex sex for at least 12 months before giving the gift of life. The new guidelines like the decades-old ban stem from the fact that gay and bisexual men are more likely to be HIV positive than the general population and therefore have a higher probability of donating infected blood. But all blood is screened for the virus after donation, and today's tests detect the virus less than two weeks after infection leaving many gay men and advocacy groups confused about the new proposal.
For many, a 12-month abstinence period seems like a lifetime ban, and the policy seems to target individuals based on their identities rather than on the behaviors they engage in.
The Gay Men's Health Crisis which doesn't only serve gay men, but was founded first as a response to the AIDS epidemic ravaging the gay community called the new guidelines "harmful": "By implementing this policy, the FDA will continue to fan the flames of the outdated stereotype that HIV is only a 'gay disease.'"
(Excerpt) Read more at nymag.com ...
If I were gay and needed a blood transfusion, I think I would want to know that the blood I received was safe and untainted. I wouldn’t be thinking about the “right” to donate blood.
The recent ruling is insanity. Leftists want everyone to be “equal.” In the leftist “mind” behavior doesn’t count. Nothing is good, nothing is bad. Everybody “deserves” the same rewards, regardless of actions.
Liberalism is madness.
That must be seen as advancement for some sort of GTLBQX (or whatever) rights, no?
I’m permanently banned from donating blood because I was stationed in Germany more than thirty years ago (mad cow fear) so maybe screening isn’t all they claim it to be.
Faggies have always insisted that if more “breeders” came down with AIDS then society would rush to find a cure. Tainting the blood supply is part of their agenda.
Wouldn’t it be better to just not take a chance at all. If someone does get tainted blood that gives them HIV they should sue the blood bank and the lawmakers that allowed this to happen until they are beyond bankrupt (just like 0 is doing to us)
“and the policy seems to target individuals based on their identities rather than on the behaviors they engage in”
Their identity is based on their BEHAVIORS!
Like what gay dude does not brag about how many nasty encounters they’ve had over their lives? Without all of that, then what would even make them gay? It sure the hell isn’t celibacy.
4+ years in Germany, and I spent only 4 days in England. I put enough Jägermeister and Konigsbacher beer in my system to kill any potential mad cow presence, not to mention any other diseases.
This gives me confidence that a theory of mine is indeed correct. I believe there is a secret blood supply for the ruling class. No way they would allow a decision like this if they did not have their own secret supply.
I donate three times a year and recently received a “4 gallon” pin from ARC.
I always feel lighter and less fatigued after donating a pint...
. . . because the feelings of Gays are so much more important than the safety of the nation’s blood supply.
How does the FDA police this today? Why can’t a flaming gay guy walk in and donate blood and profess he’s straight? There is nothing stopping them today, so I dont even think this would change anything. I think its just another way to create news stories about poor helpless gay people. /s
Correct - its not just a "gay disease" - its now also an intravenous drug-users/addict disease. But without those two groups - HIV likely wouldn't hardly be known among the general population.
I gave blood a couple of days ago and saw a flyer they had about their VIP LifeSaver program. Anyone who donates 3 or 4 times a year qualifies for their "Silver" level of membership. I'm not sure what all you get with that--probably a t-shirt, maybe some other stuff. Visit redcrossblood.org/vip if you are interested.
The day after 9-11-2001 our local Red Cross was mobbed with donors, like recruiting stations on December 8, 1941. We were each told when to come back & donate.
It was after I gave in 2002 that the mad cow ban went into effect. Still in the guidelines to this day.
Too bad, I’m A Neg, one of the six percent rare types. Oh, well.
Damn them all!!!
AIDS is just one of several diseases passed between men that do that disgusting stuff to each other. IV drug users and recently-tattooed are banned for good reason; I don’t see how lifting their bans benefits anyone.
Ask Arthur Ashe what he thinks. Wait a minute, that’s impossible because he died from getting an HIV tainted blood transfusion.
Many cases of AIDS in non-gay patients resulted from tainted blood transfusions. New fiction must be written to destroy the old facts.
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