#bloodban

[earlsings]

Reposted from @humanrightscampaign Let’s get the facts straight: the blood ban is discriminatory. . Join us and let the FDA know the blood donation policy should be based on science, NOT stigma. . #HumanRightsCampaign #LGBT #LGBTQ #BloodBan #ScienceNotStigma https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp28hAHL8HG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[shorm]

I've seen a bunch of people recently saying they won't donate blood while the homophobic #bloodban remains in place. I totally 100% understand it. Protests work. And hell, the blood ban has been one of the things that my social activism has actually *helped* with over the years, between petitions, awareness-spreading, information gathering, etc. It's a very important cause to me. But also, you're throwing the most vulnerable into the line of fire -- and pretty much *exclusively* the most vulnerable. Making @canadaslifeline look bad because they're in a blood shortage doesn't really do much, because they're not the ones issuing the ban, it's Health Canada. So anyway: the gay blood ban is down to three months now. Not good enough, still based on gender instead of risky behaviour, still not actually grounded in science. But it meant I could donate blood today. If you can donate, do so. You can't catch COVID-19 from blood, they're literally screening people at the doors and strictly enforcing social distancing, everything is *constantly* being cleaned. Don't use the blood ban as a reason not to go -- go anyway and then keep putting pressure on Health Canada. ...but also book an appointment, because I think they've reduced timeslots, and they're literally turning people away at the doors. (at Canadian Red Cross) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-AOLKvHjE6/?igshid=zmcb0waomich

[darthgay]

Unfortunately its now confirmed that the rumors about a ban being lifted in the wake of this fucking massacre were false. Embarrassing for us a nation. Our community is prevented from helping in the only way many us can.

[houseofjoehiv]

The headline “FDA lifting lifetime ban on gay male donors” is misleading. The ONLY gay male donors eligible to donate are those who have NOT had sexual contact in the last year.

[two-smile-as-one]

Bloodban

In many countries around the world there is a bloodban for gay people. Meaning that if you are gay you can't donate blood. In Belgium you can donate blood as a gay man but not if you have had sex with a man after 1967(not sure about the date but it is about right). The rule only applies to gay men, lesbians are free to donate.

At first I was really angry about this because the main reason is that if you are gay you have a high chance of having HIV. I thought this was bullshit.

So I did some research and it seems that between 3 and 5 out of a hundred gay males would have HIV. 1/20!! 

It scared the shit out of me. I've already been wondering about getting tested even though I haven't really done anything that could have infected me.

60% percent of gay males have very low risk of having HIV(because they have safe sex, are in relationship,...).

I know one thing, I'm never having unsafe sex.

[pozmagazine]

HHS Seeks Comments on Alternatives to Gay Blood Ban

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is reconsidering its rules forbidding men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating blood, The Hill reports. Currently, any man who has had sex with another man since 1977 is barred from blood donation indefinitely. The risks of transmitting HIV and other viruses in this manner have dropped considerably since the policy was implemented. As a result of this increased accuracy of testing procedures, less than one in a million units of blood has HIV. HHS has asked the public for comments on a potential pilot program to re-evaluate the ban. Comments may be submitted online until June 11.

Btw, you did read that right - any man who has had sex with another man, even once, since 1977 is barred from blood donation. Did you know those rules even existed?