Hello SameSame!

I'm currently working on a documentary about the blood bans imposed on gay men.

In Australia, currently if you have had homosexual sex and are a man, you are not allowed to give blood within the year after contact. In the US, there is a lifetime ban (since 1977 and they were first learning about AIDS). In the UK, they are lifting the lifetime ban in November, but they still have a one year ban.

What do you think about this?

Have you been banned?

Do you have a story to tell?

Please post here or email me at alisonhickerson at gmail dot com

it should be based on sexual activity, not on sexual orientation.

I wasn't aware of any ban. I personally hate giving blood so I will happily accept this excuse not to do so.

So are you saying that hospitals still cant confidently screen for HIV/AIDS in blood? Thats a worry.

Can I bank some of my own blood for my personal use in the future? Is this expensive.

i agree with ammonite, but then again it is kind of a logical move also, cause if i were in dire need of blood i would want it to be as safe and diseased free as possible

besides i think people just give power to a problem that isnt really a big deal you know? so what if you get denied the right to give blood because your gay, big deal, move on

Honestly, I'd have to know on what ground the ban is made. I'm guessing it is simply down to risk factors but I am sure no one has really checked and it has remained in force regardless.

Also, if you lie on the questionaire or however it works then surely there is some other safe-guard against unsuitable blood??

I believe that it's a fairly stupid ban to be honest. They are desperate for blood and quite a few people are banned for what seems like a weak excuse.

Badamj200

You bring up some interesting points.

I do know that when the first created the ban or "deferment," it was in a time when they could not confidently say that the donated blood was free of AIDS/HIV. And I do know in Canada there were reports of thousands of people receiving tainted blood before more stringent measures were put in place.

Blood is tested at least twice to ensure it's disease free (and I know that donors are surveyed about their sexual activity before donation...but who is to say they are being truthful?) but they have found few cases that have slipped through the cracks, so some countries believe that it's better to be safe than sorry.

EVEN IF you are a gay man who has the same blood type as your mother, who is dying of cancer and needs a transfusion, and the blood bank is low with your less-common O- blood type.

I always learned gay, straight, black, white, same struggle -- same fight.

Isn't everyone as prone to contract HIV/AIDS as everyone else?

I've never been banned, because of being aware of the discriminatory ban, I've never fronted up to donate blood, knowing that filling in the questionaire involved, when answering yes to m2m sexual activity within the last 12 months, causes an automatic deferral (ban).

http://www.donateblood.com.au/become...-to-give-blood

It causes interesting conversations with Red Cross donation takers, but put simply, if my Gay blood is not good enough to donate, then neither is my Gay money to donate.

What I haven't been able to track down though, is rules for donating organs, wether there are any restrictions on organ donation if you have been known to participate in m2m sexual activity in the last 12 months.

Cheers,
Dion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahickers

…What do you think about this? …

this was all discussed in another thread last month. Check the "Search' function. o

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dion

It causes interesting conversations with Red Cross donation takers, but put simply, if my Gay blood is not good enough to donate, then neither is my Gay money to donate.

that's awesome

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dion

What I haven't been able to track down though, is rules for donating organs, wether there are any restrictions on organ donation if you have been known to participate in m2m sexual activity in the last 12 months.

good question

Not a fan of needles, so it's a good job that I am banned. No need to feel guilty about not donating.

I'm very against this practice - i think its crying wolf to complain about blood shortages (as the Red Cross are prone to do) whilst at the same time eradicate 10% of people from your potential donor lists.

Whilst I appreciate the case of HIV latency in the blood etc etc screening after 3 months of exposure does pick that up, and in any case blood is tested a number of times before it, if ever is used

I say screw em. If they don't want it then they can go without! In the meantime I'll have as much non gay blood as they can pump in to me. I don't discriminate when/if I am in need.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark_

this was all discussed in another thread last month. Check the "Search' function. o

Thanks Mark. I'll check that out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ammonite

it should be based on sexual activity, not on sexual orientation.

It is. If you're straight and have sex with another man you are banned.

Why is this such an issue? Surely there's more pressing and worthwhile issues in our community than being able to give blood.

http://www.samesame.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=24794
http://www.samesame.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=4334
http://www.samesame.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=12087
http://www.samesame.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=9466

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahickers

Badamj200

You bring up some interesting points.

I do know that when the first created the ban or "deferment," it was in a time when they could not confidently say that the donated blood was free of AIDS/HIV. And I do know in Canada there were reports of thousands of people receiving tainted blood before more stringent measures were put in place.

Blood is tested at least twice to ensure it's disease free (and I know that donors are surveyed about their sexual activity before donation...but who is to say they are being truthful?) but they have found few cases that have slipped through the cracks, so some countries believe that it's better to be safe than sorry.

EVEN IF you are a gay man who has the same blood type as your mother, who is dying of cancer and needs a transfusion, and the blood bank is low with your less-common O- blood type.

I always learned gay, straight, black, white, same struggle -- same fight.

Isn't everyone as prone to contract HIV/AIDS as everyone else?

Tis a dilemma . Diseases don't discriminate? I have no answers or suggestions.

Blood gets screened throughout the entire process therefore I believe this stand is pathetic and Australia is one of a few countries which maintains this.

Banning a social group does not in any way make the donation "safer".

Although I am lesbian and this does not dirctly affect me - I find it such an appaling stance that I refuse to continue giving blood until this is lifted. Considering I have a blood type which is generally sought after I feel this is my way of protesting. Prior to knowing this ban was on I was donating at least 3 times a year if not more.

Personally I am up for it if the gay community have their own blood bank. I will happily donate to this.

I could care less.
I am more than happy to donate blood, and have done so before I became 'sexually active'.
If they do not want my blood, I am not going to plead for my blood to be taken. Their loss My blood is the shizz