Should gays be allowed to donate blood?

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jalaram

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,920
2
81
Originally posted by: vood0g
Originally posted by: dabuddha
Originally posted by: tagej
Ok, I guess I'll take the unpopular side of this argument.

Basically, the Red Cross tries it's best to screen out those who engage in what is (statistically observed) high-risk behavior. If you get tattoos, if you use IV drugs, if you engage in sex with prostitutes etc (there's a long list of questions), then it makes sense for the Red Cross not to include your blood donation into the general blood supply. One of those high-risk behaviors is having anal sex with a man. Since homosexual relations (between men) automatically includes this statistically high-risk behavior, it is rational to exclude men who engage in homosexual relations as a high-risk group.

Now you can argue all day long about safe sex etc, but statistics indicate that people who engage in 'risky' behavior have a significantly higher statistical chance of having blood borne diseases and STD's.

Bottom line, it's not the person's orientation that matters, it's whether they engage in behavior that has been determined to be statistically 'high risk'. Gay men are not excluded from giving blood because they are gay, it's because they engage in one of the defined high-risk behaviors. There are heterosexuals that engage in behavior that is high-risk as well (such as drug users). They are also excluded from donating blood.

Until there's a proven 100% effective method of screening out tainted blood of any kind, it makes sense to prevent people who engage in high-risk behavior (of any kind) from donating.

Well said.

:thumbsup:

:thumbsup: as well.

While reading this thread, I was wondering who would write up a good answer as to why they don't allow gays to donate. Well done, tagej.

The questions that were asked to me were about where I lived, visited, and my "behaviours." Yes, you're asked if you had sex with another male if you're a male, but not if you're gay IIRC. They also asked if you had sex with someone who had a high risk behaviour. I was also asked if I visisted another country. They calmed down when I said Canada. One time, I was almost rejected because I had visited England for a week the year before the mad cow outbreak.

I do also believe they ask so many questions beforehand so that you're not embarrassed if they contact you later to inform you if they found any HIV in it. Don't forget that they allow you to donate and mark it so that it doesn't get used later in case you have doubts about the "safeness" of your blood. They give the donor many outs to save embarrassment for him/her and reduce the amount of "risky" blood.

Should gays be allowed to donate? Sure. But, the blood banks should be allowed to be careful during the donation process.
 

flamingelephant

Golden Member
Jun 22, 2001
1,182
0
76
yes, they should
the people who shouldnt be allowed to give blood are any male/female/gay/straight sluts who have unprotected sex with lots of people. Race, age, sex, sexual orientation has nothing to do with it.
 

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
I guess one could do the math and show that the benefits outweigh the costs. I think that the Red Cross doesn't test each person's blood individually, too prohibitively time consuming and expensive. I think they gather it into batches by type, and test each batch. Now if X% of gays have been shown to be HIV positive, then it could be mathematically shown that the amount of good blood that gays donate is less than the amount of blood they taint (if the blood is tested in batches).

Of course this all goes out the window if they don't test the blood in batches. I'm no doctor, I'm just throwing this possibility out there.
 

rhino56

Platinum Member
Oct 6, 2004
2,325
1
0
being gay is unnatural and morally wrong. it is a perversion of the normal intended sexual relationship that should be held sacred between a man and woman in matrimony.

it has become accepted even in some churches as a normal and natural way to be when even the book they preach from clearly states it is a sin.

sin can be forgiven immediately, but the consequences of it cannot be erased.
if people had higher values and valued life and others more there would be a whole lot less blood needed.

there is plenty of donators of blood, this is one of the problems with people, trying to confuse issues, like saying should murderers be allowed to have telephone sex from their prison cells, well they shouldnt have the phones in the first place.

twisted minds say things that further try to justify what they find acceptable.
the creator of this thread has justified that it is okay to be gay and moved on to the issues facing being gay.

so in that sense the creator of this thread is also gay.






 

Zysoclaplem

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2003
8,799
0
0
Originally posted by: rhino56
being gay is unnatural and morally wrong. it is a perversion of the normal intended sexual relationship that should be held sacred between a man and woman in matrimony.

it has become accepted even in some churches as a normal and natural way to be when even the book they preach from clearly states it is a sin.

sin can be forgiven immediately, but the consequences of it cannot be erased.
if people had higher values and valued life and others more there would be a whole lot less blood needed.

there is plenty of donators of blood, this is one of the problems with people, trying to confuse issues, like saying should murderers be allowed to have telephone sex from their prison cells, well they shouldnt have the phones in the first place.

twisted minds say things that further try to justify what they find acceptable.
the creator of this thread has justified that it is okay to be gay and moved on to the issues facing being gay.

so in that sense the creator of this thread is also gay.

 

AaronB

Golden Member
Dec 25, 2002
1,214
0
0
I know it's asking a lot but can everyone please keep this thread on topic by showing some maturity and ignoring what rhino56 said? Please, don't feed the troll.
 

Fausto

Elite Member
Nov 29, 2000
26,521
2
0
Originally posted by: AaronB
I know it's asking a lot but can everyone please keep this thread on topic by showing some maturity and ignoring what rhino56 said? Please, don't feed the troll.
:thumbsup:
 

rhino56

Platinum Member
Oct 6, 2004
2,325
1
0
Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
Originally posted by: rhino56
being gay is unnatural and morally wrong. it is a perversion of the normal intended sexual relationship that should be held sacred between a man and woman in matrimony.

it has become accepted even in some churches as a normal and natural way to be when even the book they preach from clearly states it is a sin.

sin can be forgiven immediately, but the consequences of it cannot be erased.
if people had higher values and valued life and others more there would be a whole lot less blood needed.

there is plenty of donators of blood, this is one of the problems with people, trying to confuse issues, like saying should murderers be allowed to have telephone sex from their prison cells, well they shouldnt have the phones in the first place.

twisted minds say things that further try to justify what they find acceptable.
the creator of this thread has justified that it is okay to be gay and moved on to the issues facing being gay.

so in that sense the creator of this thread is also gay.

if your saying my mind is twisted and im trying to justify something your way off. take a look at the truth once, then go take a look at your kids and ask them at what age is it ok for your son put another mans penis in his mouth. is it ok at 18?
is it something a parent is proud of? thats the truth, parents have comes to terms, or accepted it. just like sleeping around, i dont know anyone who wants to think of their wife sleeping with other men, however in todays world chances are she has been divorced twice and had several boyfriends. but we just block it out more and more.
 

Zysoclaplem

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2003
8,799
0
0
Originally posted by: AaronB
I know it's asking a lot but can everyone please keep this thread on topic by showing some maturity and ignoring what rhino56 said? Please, don't feed the troll.

The thread started with the words, "Should gays be allowed..."
What did you think was going to happen?
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
Originally posted by: rhino56
Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
Originally posted by: rhino56
being gay is unnatural and morally wrong. it is a perversion of the normal intended sexual relationship that should be held sacred between a man and woman in matrimony.

it has become accepted even in some churches as a normal and natural way to be when even the book they preach from clearly states it is a sin.

sin can be forgiven immediately, but the consequences of it cannot be erased.
if people had higher values and valued life and others more there would be a whole lot less blood needed.

there is plenty of donators of blood, this is one of the problems with people, trying to confuse issues, like saying should murderers be allowed to have telephone sex from their prison cells, well they shouldnt have the phones in the first place.

twisted minds say things that further try to justify what they find acceptable.
the creator of this thread has justified that it is okay to be gay and moved on to the issues facing being gay.

so in that sense the creator of this thread is also gay.

if your saying my mind is twisted and im trying to justify something your way off. take a look at the truth once, then go take a look at your kids and ask them at what age is it ok for your son put another mans penis in his mouth. is it ok at 18?
is it something a parent is proud of? thats the truth, parents have comes to terms, or accepted it. just like sleeping around, i dont know anyone who wants to think of their wife sleeping with other men, however in todays world chances are she has been divorced twice and had several boyfriends. but we just block it out more and more.


But it's alright to teach your kids intolerance based on religious beliefs? Mmmmmm logic++
 

Zysoclaplem

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2003
8,799
0
0
Originally posted by: rhino56
Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
Originally posted by: rhino56
being gay is unnatural and morally wrong. it is a perversion of the normal intended sexual relationship that should be held sacred between a man and woman in matrimony.

it has become accepted even in some churches as a normal and natural way to be when even the book they preach from clearly states it is a sin.

sin can be forgiven immediately, but the consequences of it cannot be erased.
if people had higher values and valued life and others more there would be a whole lot less blood needed.

there is plenty of donators of blood, this is one of the problems with people, trying to confuse issues, like saying should murderers be allowed to have telephone sex from their prison cells, well they shouldnt have the phones in the first place.

twisted minds say things that further try to justify what they find acceptable.
the creator of this thread has justified that it is okay to be gay and moved on to the issues facing being gay.

so in that sense the creator of this thread is also gay.

if your saying my mind is twisted and im trying to justify something your way off. take a look at the truth once, then go take a look at your kids and ask them at what age is it ok for your son put another mans penis in his mouth. is it ok at 18?
is it something a parent is proud of? thats the truth, parents have comes to terms, or accepted it. just like sleeping around, i dont know anyone who wants to think of their wife sleeping with other men, however in todays world chances are she has been divorced twice and had several boyfriends. but we just block it out more and more.

I only bolded your statement. You applied it to yourself and then became defensive. You seem to have some issues with yourself.
 

Stark

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2000
7,735
0
0
Originally posted by: crt1530
Do they also disallow straight people who engage in anal sex?

exactly. tagej said it earlier... lesbians are allowed to donate blood, so being gay has nothing to do with it.

the real question should be "should people who recieve anal sex be allowed to donate blood?"

I vote no.
 

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
Originally posted by: SampSon
Nobody but wealthy, land owning white males should be able to donante blood.

I might need more blood than my fellow land owning white males could supply. I'd suggest taking it from the peasantry instead.
 

JonnyBlaze

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
3,114
1
0
Originally posted by: Supercharged
who cares? it's not like you're gonna catch gay. :roll:

lol.

i can see it now. " ever since my blood transfusion i keep looking at guys!"

JB
 

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
16,928
8
81
I'd hate to get a blood transfusion and get the Gay Gene and turn Gay. That would suck.

But anyhow, don't they do tests and screening on all donated blood anyway? So let them donate and if it's bad, then you just don't use it....
 

Zysoclaplem

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2003
8,799
0
0
Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
Originally posted by: Supercharged
who cares? it's not like you're gonna catch gay. :roll:

lol.

i can see it now. " ever since my blood transfusion i keep looking at guys!"

JB

How would a guy know if he caught "the gay" from a lesbian?
 

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
31,796
2
0
Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
Originally posted by: Supercharged
who cares? it's not like you're gonna catch gay. :roll:

lol.

i can see it now. " ever since my blood transfusion i keep looking at guys!"

JB

How would a guy know if he caught "the gay" from a lesbian?

An intense desire to watch the WNBA....
 

Originally posted by: Triumph
Originally posted by: SampSon
Nobody but wealthy, land owning white males should be able to donante blood.

I might need more blood than my fellow land owning white males could supply. I'd suggest taking it from the peasantry instead.
NAY!
 

JonnyBlaze

Diamond Member
May 24, 2001
3,114
1
0
Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
Originally posted by: Supercharged
who cares? it's not like you're gonna catch gay. :roll:

lol.

i can see it now. " ever since my blood transfusion i keep looking at guys!"

JB

How would a guy know if he caught "the gay" from a lesbian?

i was being sarcastic, but in that case he would still like woman, just be a lil more moody :)

seriously tho, sexual preferance shouldnt matter. just test the blood really good no matter who it comes from.

JBlaze