Playing a Dangerous Game

I’ve written various articles on the subject of gay men donating blood. In the United States, all who have had sex with another many since 1977, regardless of the fact that all blood is tested. This is a very dangerous game the blood banks are playing. Perfectly good blood is being turned away that could be used, and yet, the American Red Cross are always complaining about being short of blood, and doing blood drives all the time. But that’s my pet peeve - one of simple discrimination without any scientific basis for it what so ever.

Scientifically, all blood is tested. Statistically, gay men practice safer sex than heterosexual men, many of whom (who donate blood) have been with prostitutes (many of whom do not practice safe sex because their clients don’t like to wear condoms). No one has disputed these facts. And yet, get men are banned for life from giving blood, while others who engage in risky sexual behavior are allowed to give blood, after a short period of time after their last risky sexual behavior. And, that is discrimination. Many would argue that if it’s discrimination where the blood supply is concerned, that is acceptable.

But I’m willing not to use the “D”(iscrimination) word for a bit. Let’s just look at the safety issues this policy presents to all of us. This spells it out pretty well, from a Canadian blogger.

Still the blood service feels they are being reasonable in limiting blood donations from gays to those who haven’t had any sex in six months. They have missed the whole point. No other population group is excluded from donating blood. In fact they recently changed the rules so that black blood can be mixed with white blood. Horror of horrors.

The decision in South Africa actually highlights the problems and the systemic discriminatory practice being applied around the world and here in Canada against gay men. The six month no sex and you can give blood rule is meant to ensure the gay man has been pre-screened for HIV, a standard not applied to any other group.

The stupidity in this position is that all blood is screened for HIV and other diseases and viruses after it is collected. The wrong in it is that it implies all gay men, even those that practice safer sex, are too much a risk to accept their blood. Instead of using a more practical tool such as pre-screening for unsafe sexual or drug injection activity, gay men are forbidden to donate. [...]

We practiced safer sex methods. In fact I am willing to bet that gay men use condoms more than any other group in society. 77% of us use condoms during sex according to surveys conducted in British Columbia. I would ask if there is any other group out there that can match that number. I seriously doubt it.

Yet despite the facts, hysteria and hypocrisy rules the day. In order to rebuild confidence in the safety of our blood supply gay men were vilified without any scientific basis to support such a ban. Gay men have been paying the price since. So have blood collection services.

Now a huge pool of perfectly good blood is left circulating in my body and others while hospitals are screaming for donations every long weekend and all summer long. “Warning only two days blood supply on hand.” You have all heard these warnings. (source)

And here in the United States, they are looking to change the rules a bit, similar to what Canada is doing. As so many other things in life, when you grow older, your priorities change. I’m coming to a point in my life that I view those who practice discrimination towards me as the same as a gay basher. They have issues.

But most importantly, those issues are only my issues if I let them be my issues (if I allow myself to care about them). That’s right. I’ve learned that I actually have the power to decide what I will and will not care about. The fact that the Red Cross won’t allow me to give blood is no longer a concern of mine. Their shortages of blood are no longer my concern, because they haven’t taken the steps to remove themselves from their own discriminatory practices and look at the scientific evidence; drug users are not banned for life, heterosexual men who visit prostitutes are not banned for life. To me, this puts the American Red Cross and the CDC right down their with the common street-thug-gay-basher. No more, no less.

Don’t concern yourself with the fact that you might feel that I have a poor attitude. I’m simply done with the issue. Today, if the ban were completely lifted, I would not give blood. It’s a matter of principle for me. What you really should concern yourself with today is the real safety of the current blood, surrounded by screening policies that are rotted in hysteria and misinformation.

P.S. I won’t be committing to being celibate for six months in order to donate so forget that possibility, even if all of you agree to a rule that says anyone that has had sex in the last six months can’t donate. There is only so much I am willing to give up. (source)

Nor would I submit to a six month period of celibacy. I’m not going to dignify their request at the expense of my own pride. Too much has been sacrificed already by people like me while others who engage in unsafe practices are given a free ride, so to speak.