Any Blood donors?

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  Jul 31, 2008 1:35 AM GMT

  I know i am technically not supposed to but i'm a blood and organ donor. One of the things that they consider high risk is a man who had sex with another man even once since 1977. I dont agree with this as having sex period can be high risk for men and women. I was just wondering what you all think about that.

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  Jul 31, 2008 2:19 AM GMT

  I have donated blood twice. I have not had sex with anyone yet (I hope it's 'yet' LOL), so no problem with that.

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• VinBaltimore
  
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  Jul 31, 2008 2:21 AM GMT

  I donated very regularly for several years, but I got tired of lying when they got to that question.
  
  They kept calling me and I brushed them off until one day I just blurted out that I was gay and how unfair I thought their policies are. I went on and on. The poor woman that called me, who sounded 90+, didn't know what to say. But they never called again.

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  Jul 31, 2008 2:49 AM GMT

  No, the whole sex thing made me stop. I particularly miss the sandwiches, juice and decadent "Cookies by George".
  
  Of course, it was really a free lunch but only at the main Red Cross station. Otherwise, they were just crappy clearance cookies from the local department store.

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  Jul 31, 2008 3:08 AM GMT

  So should I stop?

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  Jul 31, 2008 3:18 AM GMT

  I loved donating blood, but then realized I was exacerbating the problem of unfair donation policies by lying and donating anyway. I'm currently on a personal blood strike until they let me legally donate again, I guess. The blood ban should be lifted; it's archaic and prejudicial. And as much as I think we should all be giving blood, I know feel that gay men who donate anyway are helping keep these nasty laws in place. I think gay men should get together and stop donating entirely until someone high up realizes how awful the blood ban is. Next time there's a blood shortage, I'm not going to consider it my fault.

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  Jul 31, 2008 3:22 AM GMT

  I got about 2 gallons of credits in before they imposed that ban. I didnt know they still had it.

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  Jul 31, 2008 3:36 AM GMT

  I regularly lied on that answer. Even though the sound of my voice totally gives me away, they're not going to question it and most of the clinics locally have been trying to fight the policy anyways. However, two years ago, October, I went to donate but my blood pressure was too high to be accepted. I haven't donated since. I've lost most of the weight and my blood pressure is completely normal. But, I'm also very proud of who I am now and don't want to lie. I think it's OK to lie about it as most of the nurses drawing the blood rant about how stupid and UN-factually based the policies are and how it prevents saving lives. It may just take me some time to get up the courage.

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  Jul 31, 2008 4:27 AM GMT

  The last time I gave was in college, before I became sexually active. Then I just stopped because I didn't want to lie on the form. They're policy is horribly flawed, inaccurate, and homophobic.
  
  This is a good topic. I wonder why the RC hasn't changed or addressed it?

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  Jul 31, 2008 4:31 AM GMT

  I would donate blood, but seeing as I've lived in Germany during a restricted time period, I can't donate blood. So the "other issue" is of no matter.

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  Jul 31, 2008 4:53 AM GMT

  I donated until I couldnt lie on the form at 19, so I decided like others it is a wrong policy and they can go without my gay O+ blood. SInce Im HIV- and not high risk (ever) they will never get my gay cooties, thank goodness.

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• helium
  
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  Jul 31, 2008 12:40 PM GMT

  I have never given blood. I don't like needles at all and I know that I wouldn't feel that great if I did that. I might consider it though in the future once that little policy changes. Otherwise I might just do it the one time just to say that I did it.

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  Jul 31, 2008 1:16 PM GMT

  I would -- but between surgery, tattoos, piercings and oh yea the gay thing, I havent in a long time.
  
  My sister gives enough for the both of us, she actually gives platelets! She is the giver of the family!

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  Jul 31, 2008 1:17 PM GMT

  I used to but obviously since I am HIV+ now I have stopped. I also tore up my organ donor card.

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  Jul 31, 2008 1:26 PM GMT

  Not to squelch this thread, but it has come up in the past.
  
  http://www.realjock.com/gayforums/56946/
  
  http://www.realjock.com/gayforums/133937/
  
  http://www.realjock.com/gayforums/75414/
  
  http://www.realjock.com/gayforums/132604/
  
  The third thread in the list has a very clear explanation by mylifemypain of why the Red Cross asks men who have sex with men not to donate.
  
  I don't take the ban personally, and I don't give blood right now. Maybe in the future if Red Cross changes its policies.

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• konfuzed
  
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  Jul 31, 2008 1:54 PM GMT

  Eh I gave a lot while I was in school because the on campus drives were so easy. I'm O- so I'd get a postcard every 2 weeks all fall and winter, they'd drain me dry if they coulda gotten away with it (Atlanta's had some weird blood shortages over the last few years).
  
  I trailed off once I got tired of smirking at the question and stopped working on campus since a group of us going at once was always part of the time outta the office.
  
  Didn't really care either way, I figure the person who needs an emergency transfusion doesn't care if I had some boy's legs on my shoulders last night as long as he's getting nothing but a life line to keep him around...

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  Jul 31, 2008 9:44 PM GMT

  I gave blood once, and then they came out with the proscription against "gay blood." I'm not one to second-guess them.

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  Jul 31, 2008 9:45 PM GMT

  P.S. '77 is when I came out.

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• acrojock10
  
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  Jul 31, 2008 10:07 PM GMT

  I work in this industry and constantly hate having to ask this question.
  Recently the FDA addressed this issue I'll find the response on the CBER website and post it. I can honestly tell you out of 4 years working in this industry that 99.99% of our reactive donors are not gay. And I know of several gay individuals who donate. (I don't know if they're sexually active or not. They say no.) It is simply there in place because at one point in time MSM was the largest increased risk group for HIV. The policy has held in place. The FDA makes these rules in the US. The Australian red cross is different. They require a 12 month deferal period since last MSM contact.
  Personally I believe that there is absolutely no threat to the blood supply because all units are now required to be double tested utilizing both ELISA, & PCR testing, as well as syphilis screening. Not to mention the holds placed on units pending further testing. Once a reactive is documented the national donor deferal registry is notified and the donor is not allowed to donate anymore. I personally believe that this is now just standing there as the governments way of further discrimination. Blood Products are considered Pharmaceutical and the agencies that collect, must be licensed by the FDA in the US or if their product enters the US.
  I personally believe that the ban will be lifted as very soon most agencies will be performing drug screening that will result in the deferal of those that really are the problem. Everyone is at risk if they are sexually active. Plain and simple. Multiple agencies are still trying to have this risk group eliminated from The FDAs HRG list.
  Hopefully in the near future that ban is lifted. And we can all be happy donors again!
  
  On the HIV Front. I'll post another Link that my buddy Rusty sent me the other day. There is promising new research in HIV treatment that is awaiting the start of human trials that has so far been effective in all other trials.
  
  

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