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.
