Posted on 08/12/2023 6:16:40 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
For the first time in nearly 40 years, monogamous gay and bisexual men are now eligible to donate blood with the American Red Cross.
"We want to make sure that it's open for anyone to be able to donate, regardless of their sexual orientation," said Kyle Kriegl, executive director of the American Red Cross' Southwest Wisconsin Chapter. "We want to make sure that we're all inclusive to everyone for this."
In the midst of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration enacted a life-long ban on blood donation for gay men.
"It just seemed really unfair and unprofessional that that a medical organization would be would be increasing this bias," said executive director at OutReach LGBTQ Community Center Steve Starkey.
That was true until 2015, but even then, gay and bisexual men had to be celibate for at least a year before they could donate. In 2020, they dropped that period to three months.
Under the new guidelines, everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, will be asked the same screening questions. That means gay and bisexual men with only one sexual partner will be eligible to donate.
"Treating each individual case separately is a really good move," Starkey said. "Then you're kind of basing it on the person history and medical facts, rather than just banning a whole class of people."
The change comes at a time when the Red Cross says they're facing a donor shortage this summer.
"Each day, the American Red Cross, we need to collect at least 29,000 units of blood for the United States to make sure that we have enough in the blood supply," Kreigl said.
Starkey says after decades of exclusion, he's not sure how quickly the LGBTQ community will hop on board.
"I don't know what the reaction will be," Starkey said. "But at least now people that do want to participate, are able to participate in are not treated as different because of their sexual orientation."
For the Red Cross, it's the more the merrier.
"We want to make sure that, you know, as many folks that can donate are donating," Kriegl said.
Show me one, and I MIGHT believe you. Just one.
Inclusion comes before safety.
More rules that will cause death. Do not be surprised to watch the number of AIDS cases dramatically increase all the while doctors will state they have no idea what could be the cause of this dramatic increase.
If needed, I will store my own blood.
What’s the big deal about not being able to donate blood anyway?
Meh! I gave up on red cross decades ago. Thus I will continue to not support them. 😁👍
You find a way, (to store your own blood), let us know
Sounds simple and reasonable, right?? But most places won’t let or help you do so!! 😡
“More rules that will cause death. Do not be surprised to watch the number of AIDS cases dramatically increase…”
Exactly so - these degenerate anal intercourse participants killed a hemophiliac friend of mine back in the 80s because of infected blood clotting products. The ARC is going to start that entire cycle again, just for appearance sake.
I wonder what Arthur Ashe would have to say about this?
Oh, wait! He died of AIDS from tainted blood used in a transfusion when he had heart bypass surgery.
See CDC's "Anyone can get aids" campaign for example.
Bob is monogamous and he thinks Bill is, but Bill plays around.
I hope that in addition to testing for HIV, hepatitis viruses, etc, they also test for AIDS drug cocktails, Pre Exposure Prophylaxis drugs, etc. Indications that people are not truthful.
monogamous gay? (Snort! Giggle Guffaw)
I see the word “Bisexual” and immediately think of the Andrew Dice Clay quote.
I did donate in the past to them, but I'll find alternatives now.
And Paul Michael Glaser’s wife—
She needed 7 pints of blood after giving birth and was given HIV tainted blood - she died, her young daughter died and her son is infected.
Sodomy was prohibited, now it’s permitted, next it’ll be mandatory. I’m glad I’m old.
I still vote for the DEI yes I will take any blood recipient group, and the no thanks, I don’t want gay blood recipient group.
We’d see how DEI shakes out when it comes to putting your own life on the line.
Next up: cancer survivors like me! /sarc
LOL, monogamous. That’s rich. I’m sure the gays would love to redefine the word monogamous as not knowing who the person was you had sex with. Because to be honest gay men are not monogamous
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