According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. With this great of a demand one would figure everyone who could safely donate blood would be allowed. Unfortunately that’s not the case. Gay men aren’t allowed to donate and haven’t been allowed since 1983. In 1983 a rule was implemented stating that any man that has had any form of sex with another man since 1977 isn’t authorized to donate blood.
The reason gay men aren’t allowed to donate blood is because it’s deemed “too dangerous”. It started when HIV detection didn’t exist, so it was a big concern with blood donations. Now there are more and accurate tests for HIV, so why can’t gay men donate blood now? The reason the ban hasn’t been lifted yet is because there’s a small window where HIV can slip through the tests. Up to two weeks after a person has become infected it may not show up on tests. This two week window also applies to straight men and women. Any person’s blood can slip through a HIV scan.
There are plenty of people and a lot of petitions fighting for this ban to be lifted though. Senator John Kerry has called it an “outdated policy” and unfair. Several other senators are also trying to change this ban saying it’s “medically and scientifically unwarranted”. Some places have even lifted the ban, such as the U.K.
I do understand why the ban was put into place, and why it stands but I still believe it’s outdated. With today’s statistics every sexually active person should be watched carefully for HIV, not just gay men. It should be look at it blind of sexual preference. They should take people who demonstrate dangerous behavior aside and test them. Personally, I think it should be based on a person’s behavior, not sexual preference.
If anyone thinks that gay men should be allowed to donate, click here to sign a petition.
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