• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Blood donation: is it time to end the ban on homosexuals?

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Assuming safety is maintained, should homosexuals be allowed to donate blood?

  • Yes

  • No

Results are only viewable after voting.
nehalem256 said:
So because the ban is not foolproof it should be eliminated?🙄
Click to expand...

That's not a reason for it to be eliminated... but it's a higher risk to the overall blood supply; the number of DL guys who donate blood is higher than the number of gay men who want to donate blood.
 
zsdersw said:
Having homosexual sex is a choice. Homosexual attraction is not.
Click to expand...

Correct, but it is understood that when asked if you are a homosexual (on forms, etc) that it means engaging in homosexual sex. I understand it is not quite correct, but that is what society understand.

You cannot control who you are attacted to, but you can control if you have sex with that person or not. I am attracted to some of my neighbors (I swear we have more hot women in my neighborhood than is legally allowable), but I do not have sex with them. 🙂


EDIT: What is DL?
 
cybrsage said:
Correct, but it is understood that when asked if you are a homosexual (on forms, etc) that it means engaging in homosexual sex. I understand it is not quite correct, but that is what society understand.

You cannot control who you are attacted to, but you can control if you have sex with that person or not. I am attracted to some of my neighbors (I swear we have more hot women in my neighborhood than is legally allowable), but I do not have sex with them. 🙂
Click to expand...

I know, I was just making sure you knew it.
 
It's funny how people on the right, the ones who are most apt to quote famous sayings such as the well-known one by Benjamin Franklin, are almost always the ones willing to give up liberty for safety.
 
nehalem256 said:
I did not realize there was a "right" to donate blood 🙄
Click to expand...

Where did I say it was a right?

The discussion here is just consistent with similar ones in other areas. Inevitably, it is the right-wingers who are willing -- even eager -- to trample on freedoms out of their own fears of miniscule risks.

Of course, it being a pet abused minority here just makes it all the sweeter for them.
 
CharlesKozierok said:
The discussion here is just consistent with similar ones in other areas. Inevitably, it is the right-wingers who are willing -- even eager -- to trample on freedoms out of their own fears of miniscule risks.
Click to expand...

Protecting public health trumps individual rights.

Dont believe me? Ask a TB patient who refused to take his medicine. That person will be arrested and quarantined.
 
CharlesKozierok said:
It's funny how people on the right, the ones who are most apt to quote famous sayings such as the well-known one by Benjamin Franklin, are almost always the ones willing to give up liberty for safety.
Click to expand...

guys on the right?? so you have to make it a political thing? FYI i dont give a shit if you are gay or who or how you fuck. its none of my business ... what is EVERYBODYS business is allowing a high risk group to be allowed to donate blood that has a high chance of being contaminated with a lethal disease.
 
zsdersw said:
That's not a reason for it to be eliminated... but it's a higher risk to the overall blood supply; the number of DL guys who donate blood is higher than the number of gay men who want to donate blood.
Click to expand...
How do you know how many gay men already donate on the DL? Seriously this is just a question asked by a person, they don't go to your home to validate it's true, there's no surveillance...if they want to donate they sure as hell can (and probably do) just by lying on a simple question, just like your wild speculation about straight guys on the "DL"...
 
zsdersw said:
Who says I'm "butthurt"? Have I expressed any rage in this thread?

Why should I drop it? It's my thread.. I'll keep posting in it if I want to. If you have a problem with that maybe you should go do something else.
Click to expand...

judging from the PM you sent me, you are butthurt.

you posted in a public forum i will keep posting in it if i want to.
 
CharlesKozierok said:
Where did I say it was a right?

The discussion here is just consistent with similar ones in other areas. Inevitably, it is the right-wingers who are willing -- even eager -- to trample on freedoms out of their own fears of miniscule risks.

Of course, it being a pet abused minority here just makes it all the sweeter for them.
Click to expand...

1/5 gay men has HIV. I would not label that a minuscule risk.

What is minuscule is potential gain from letting homosexuals donate blood.
 
corwin said:
How do you know how many gay men already donate on the DL? Seriously this is just a question asked by a person, they don't go to your home to validate it's true, there's no surveillance...if they want to donate they sure as hell can (and probably do) just by lying on a simple question, just like your wild speculation about straight guys on the "DL"...
Click to expand...

Maybe we should apply the same standards to men donating on the DL that they apply to people committing voter fraud 😛
 
zsdersw said:
Down Low. Guys, usually in heterosexual relationships, who secretly have sex with other men and keep it hidden from their female partner(s). The parlance is.. these guys are "on the down-low".
Click to expand...


Ah, thanks. I could only think Drivers License and wondered what on Earth Voter ID had to do with this topic. 🙂


EDIT: LOL And there is the tie in!
 
corwin said:
How do you know how many gay men already donate on the DL? Seriously this is just a question asked by a person, they don't go to your home to validate it's true, there's no surveillance...if they want to donate they sure as hell can (and probably do) just by lying on a simple question, just like your wild speculation about straight guys on the "DL"...
Click to expand...

As a gay man myself I can tell you.. not a lot of gay men want to donate blood if they would have to lie about their sexual lives in order to do it.
 
I'm a regular donor (30+ pints, but only started about 5-10 years ago). A lot of ignorance is shown in this thread, mostly from the usual suspects such as spidey (you can donate even after visiting most African countries). It's also clear that many of the answerers DON'T donate blood based on their answers (shame on you).

This is a matter for scientific analysis, not a public opinion poll. That said, my personal opinion is the Red Cross is way too exclusionary, presently. The central question on point is (asked of males) if they have EVER had sex with another male since January 1, 1976 (I forget the exact date, but it is way back in the 70s or 80s). I think they also asked if you have ever been diagnosed with AIDS or HIV.

We have AIDS/HIV detection tests now-no such test is 100% and they also don't catch very recent infections. Personally I think the "have you ever had sex with another male" question could be signficantly altered to say maybe two years ago. Assuming science can back me up, no sex with males in the last two years and never being diagnosed with AIDS or HIV should be sufficient.

Meanwhile the rest of you should step up to the plate to make up for our excluded gay bretheren. It's almost completely painless, simple and the only place I can get my Lorna Doone fix met. Most donors I see are either elderly or some middle agers, I rarely see anyone under 30 at the drives I go to.
 
zsdersw said:
As a gay man myself I can tell you.. not a lot of gay men want to donate blood if they would have to lie about their sexual lives in order to do it.
Click to expand...
And exactly how many gay men want to donate in general? I'm pretty sure less than 1% of the general population does so maybe the same amount of gay men? So it has no real impact at all on the supply but would increase the possibility of infections by a greater amount than the general population...I don't see a net positive.
 
zsdersw said:
All blood is already tested for HIV, etc. anyway.. so the cost isn't an issue.

I also wonder how many lie about having sex with men.. and how that kinda screws the system. Guys who are toward the "straight" end of the spectrum and on the DL will regularly lie about their homosexual sexual activities.
Click to expand...

Not too mention IV drug users that donate/sell plasma for money, do people really think they are up front about it?
 
corwin said:
And exactly how many gay men want to donate in general? I'm pretty sure less than 1% of the general population does so maybe the same amount of gay men? So it has no real impact at all on the supply but would increase the possibility of infections by a greater amount than the general population...I don't see a net positive.
Click to expand...

You're entitled to your opinion, no matter how wrong I think it is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top