Yeah, this whole thing is why I want to say I would never, ever give blood even if I were a virgin. But that punishes the innocent and does nothing to the guilty The "logic" - and I use that term in the loosest possible sense - behind the retention of this regulation sickens me. I can understand - sort of, to a degree - how it got there in the first place, when much less was known about HIV in general and every precaution was being taken (but the illogic of that is another topic entirely). However in this day and age, whether you are straight or gay or having sex with someone of the same sex or someone of the opposite sex has very little to do with it anymore. In some ways of looking at it, you're almost more at risk of having/transmitting HIV if you're straight simply because it's seen as "The gay disease". Not to mention the other things that can go through a blood transfusion as well.
I've considered just lying and saying "no" and getting through the screening anyway (I do know I'm clean (for various reasons which are all off-topic anyway ) so that part isn't actually even an issue...but damn my inability to be so dishonest! O-neg means they should love me even when spare blood ISN'T in huge demand. But whatever, screw The Man *chuckle* Though I have done some volunteer work when the local blood drives ramp up their twice-a-year things, helping people get set up and being comfortable and seeing if they need anything as it goes on or afterward, giving them their juice/cookies or taking names and information and whatnot...so I guess I can't shake the feeling that I'm still helping support their discrimination
Also, ever notice that the female-female sex part isn't a lifetime ban? Yeah, let's go back to that "screw you FDA" thing again
Anyway, wtg on your donation(s) Kurt! Keep it up while you can I guess