Comments on: Australian Expert’s Astonishing Claims About Gay Blood Donors http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/08/19/2697 News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric Sat, 25 May 2013 21:17:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Tikihead http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/08/19/2697/comment-page-1#comment-15850 Tikihead Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:43:06 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=2697#comment-15850 Yup, just checked with friend whose wife is a nurse -- they screen one in ten donations. My friend's brother caught Hepatitis C from a transfusion -- he had a miserable year on Interferon treatment. The blood donation system is really scary. Yup, just checked with friend whose wife is a nurse — they screen one in ten donations. My friend’s brother caught Hepatitis C from a transfusion — he had a miserable year on Interferon treatment.

The blood donation system is really scary.

]]> By: Tikihead http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/08/19/2697/comment-page-1#comment-15849 Tikihead Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:31:20 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=2697#comment-15849 What chills me about these pathetic screening measures, is what is implied: are they clinically screening each donation or not? It would seem they are not. What chills me about these pathetic screening measures, is what is implied: are they clinically screening each donation or not? It would seem they are not.

]]> By: CPT_Doom http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/08/19/2697/comment-page-1#comment-15717 CPT_Doom Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:03:35 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=2697#comment-15717 When I was closeted, I was a frequent blood donor, beginning at age 17, before I was sexually "active" at all. During the next 16 years, I had probably 4 - 5 experiences with other men, was in severe denial, and lied every single time I went to give blood. For the record, I was HIV- the entire time, and continued to be so at my last test, about 3 years ago (sadly, I am still not "active" enough to warrant yearly testing). In fact, after my last donation, shortly before I decided to completely come out of the closet (and stop donating blood for political reasons), the Red Cross informed me that I was not only HIV-, I was CMV-, which is far rarer (about 2% of adults). They desperately wanted my blood because adults who are CMV- are very rare, but patients with immune-compromising clinical issues need CMV- blood. Ironic, ain't it? The thing is, the way the current system works, only honest, out, gay men are actually excluded. There is no way to know if anyone is lying (which is why they also give you the chance to negate your donation by choosing the "don't use" bar code for your donation, which can only be read well after you leave the donation site). Not to mention, if you are a straight man who had sex with prostitutes weekly from 1990 - 2007, but have not done so in the past 13 months, you are good to donate. The current system is simply homophobic, and not supported by clinical evidence. When I was closeted, I was a frequent blood donor, beginning at age 17, before I was sexually “active” at all. During the next 16 years, I had probably 4 – 5 experiences with other men, was in severe denial, and lied every single time I went to give blood. For the record, I was HIV- the entire time, and continued to be so at my last test, about 3 years ago (sadly, I am still not “active” enough to warrant yearly testing). In fact, after my last donation, shortly before I decided to completely come out of the closet (and stop donating blood for political reasons), the Red Cross informed me that I was not only HIV-, I was CMV-, which is far rarer (about 2% of adults). They desperately wanted my blood because adults who are CMV- are very rare, but patients with immune-compromising clinical issues need CMV- blood. Ironic, ain’t it?

The thing is, the way the current system works, only honest, out, gay men are actually excluded. There is no way to know if anyone is lying (which is why they also give you the chance to negate your donation by choosing the “don’t use” bar code for your donation, which can only be read well after you leave the donation site). Not to mention, if you are a straight man who had sex with prostitutes weekly from 1990 – 2007, but have not done so in the past 13 months, you are good to donate.

The current system is simply homophobic, and not supported by clinical evidence.

]]> By: dlm http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/08/19/2697/comment-page-1#comment-15714 dlm Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:22:01 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=2697#comment-15714 This is not something so unusual. This week I read on the Cathedral of Hope website, the largest gay and lesbian church in the world in Dallas, Texas, that a local blood bank had called the church and requested a blood drive at the church. The article gave the date and then reminded that gay men, who make up most of the church, would AGAIN not be permitted to donate blood, but that the lesbians and straight folks of the church were welcome to participate. This is not something so unusual. This week I read on the Cathedral of Hope website, the largest gay and lesbian church in the world in Dallas, Texas, that a local blood bank had called the church and requested a blood drive at the church.

The article gave the date and then reminded that gay men, who make up most of the church, would AGAIN not be permitted to donate blood, but that the lesbians and straight folks of the church were welcome to participate.

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