Should h0mosexuals be allowed to donate blood?

id expect this type of thing from texas

but yes they should they have every right to donate blood

Yeah, that's a pretty outdated rule they were going by.

What's the difference? Does Gay blood not work equally well in a blood transfusion?Fightingfan

um wow.........I haven't used this in quite some time

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"]What's the difference? Does Gay blood not work equally well in a blood transfusion?Suzy_Q_Kazoo

FAIL question.

um wow.........I haven't used this in quite some time

Serraph105

sorry but there isnt enough facepalms in there

[QUOTE="Suzy_Q_Kazoo"][QUOTE="Fightingfan"]What's the difference? Does Gay blood not work equally well in a blood transfusion?Fightingfan

I'm not allowed to donate blood in Australia 'coz I lived in the UK when mad cow disease broke out. They're a worrisome lot over here - as you can see by my avi I'm a perfectly healthy cow.

Anyway, should gays be allowed to give blood? There are numerous cheeky comments to be made here that'll only see my level take a tumble, so I'll refrain and give an utterly mundane: yes.

[QUOTE="Serraph105"]

um wow.........I haven't used this in quite some time

spawnassasin

sorry but there isnt enough facepalms in there

lol well given who it is in the picture I blame OT

What the...yes they should. :| I didn't even know they couldn't, it's so absurd.

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"][QUOTE="Suzy_Q_Kazoo"]"The restrictions were put in place in the 1980s to prevent the risk of HIV contamination."Suzy_Q_Kazoo

[QUOTE="Suzy_Q_Kazoo"][QUOTE="Fightingfan"]What's the difference? Does Gay blood not work equally well in a blood transfusion?Fightingfan

I wonder how many people would give a f**k if the blood belonged to a homosexual or not.

[QUOTE="Suzy_Q_Kazoo"][QUOTE="Fightingfan"]What's the difference? Does Gay blood not work equally well in a blood transfusion?Fightingfan

.... By the Lords , it's not as though they have any disease or something ( Seriously , it's not as though HIV is limited to them ) . Their gonna kill off more people at this rate if they bar these people from donating blood - blood reserves are low as it is and now their going to lower the amount of blood variety in the reserves?
That's worse than stupid - it's.... stupid x2.

Off course they should be allowed to donate !
There are so few people who donate blood as it is. All the blood gets tested for diseases before being shipped to hospitals.

The ban on g@y blood donation is to be lifted in the Uk. brendanhunt1

But only if they haven't had sex within 12 monthsbrendanhunt1

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"][QUOTE="Suzy_Q_Kazoo"]"The restrictions were put in place in the 1980s to prevent the risk of HIV contamination."VaguelyTagged

If the problem is the stereotypically attributed promiscuity then why not do the same for promiscuous heterosexuals?

While we're at it, let's only allow people who are married to donate blood, just so that we're sure we've "covered" all stereotypes. >__>

I find it funny how 9 people voted "No," however there is not one comment from someone who is against it. I guess the gay bashers" are to cowardly to comment.

I find it funny how 9 people voted "No," however there is not one comment from someone who is against it. I guess the gay bashers" are to cowardly to comment.

MasterKingMP

Don't they test the blood if its HIV positive?

[QUOTE="Suzy_Q_Kazoo"][QUOTE="Fightingfan"]"The restrictions were put in place in the 1980s to prevent the risk of HIV contamination."Fightingfan

Seriously. We can test for HIV now. There's nothing to be scared of. XilePrincess

The National Blood Service screens all donations for HIV and other infections. However, there is a "window period" after infection during which it is impossible to detect the virus.BBC

[QUOTE="VaguelyTagged"][QUOTE="Fightingfan"] That's funny because HIV isn't exclusive to homosexuals.Teenaged

If the problem is the stereotypically attributed promiscuity then why not do the same for promiscuous heterosexuals?

While we're at it, let's only allow people who are married to donate blood, just so that we're sure we've "covered" all stereotypes. >__>

I think gays should be allowed to donate but if they don't want my blood then fine they can't have it, it's not worth complaining about.

[QUOTE="Teenaged"]

[QUOTE="VaguelyTagged"] while totally discriminative,it still reduces the chance of contamination.VaguelyTagged

If the problem is the stereotypically attributed promiscuity then why not do the same for promiscuous heterosexuals?

While we're at it, let's only allow people who are married to donate blood, just so that we're sure we've "covered" all stereotypes. >__>

[QUOTE="VaguelyTagged"][QUOTE="Teenaged"]Why have that policy only for gay people though?

If the problem is the stereotypically attributed promiscuity then why not do the same for promiscuous heterosexuals?

While we're at it, let's only allow people who are married to donate blood, just so that we're sure we've "covered" all stereotypes. >__>

Teenaged

Dependent on whether or not there is any noticeable increase in HIV between gay men and straight men.Overlord93

[QUOTE="Suzy_Q_Kazoo"][QUOTE="Fightingfan"]What's the difference? Does Gay blood not work equally well in a blood transfusion?Fightingfan

If the clinics are unwilling to let homosexuals donate, it makes me think they aren't testing all the blood, due to them excluding a "higher risk" group for the sake of convenience (which of course is based on an unfounded 1980's stereotype that all gays are promiscuous and diseased). If they are in fact testing all the blood, then what is the problem with letting them donate? They ask if I've been in contact with monkeys or monkey fluids in the past 6 months... but they would test for that anyways... so why ask?foxhound_fox

The National Blood Service screens all donations for HIV and other infections. However, there is a "window period" after infection during which it is impossible to detect the virus.

BBC Article

If the clinics are unwilling to let homosexuals donate, it makes me think they aren't testing all the blood, due to them excluding a "higher risk" group for the sake of convenience (which of course is based on an unfounded 1980's stereotype that all gays are promiscuous and diseased). If they are in fact testing all the blood, then what is the problem with letting them donate? They ask if I've been in contact with monkeys or monkey fluids in the past 6 months... but they would test for that anyways... so why ask?foxhound_fox

Men who had sex with men was a significantly higher risk group for HIV infection in the 80's and 90's. That was not unfounded. Your risk of contracting HIV is signficantly higher with certain types of intercourse. Two of the highest risk groups in the 80's and 90's were gay men and IV drug users. They were affected disproportionately. Certainly the idea that all gay men are promiscuos is unfounded, but gay men were a higher risk group. This was proven in the medical literature. It doesnt mean that being gay is bad or anything along those lines, just that male on male intercourse carries a much higher risk of transmission of HIV. Male to female intercourse carries around a 1 in 1000 risk per episode. Male to male intercourse is about 7 to 10 times more likely to trasmit HIV per episode of unprotected sex. The ability to test for HIV has improved over the last 20 years. We still currently test for the antibody to HIV as opposed to HIV itself. Most people will develop antibodies within about 3-4 wks of infection, however, there is a small percentage that will have HIV but not develop antibodies to it for several weeks to months. So it was possible to miss it. Current testing is more accurate and specific, but still is not perfect. It makes sense to avoid high risk groups - however - a distinction must be made between homosexual males and sexually active homosexual males. The risk only exists for those that are sexually active.sonicare