(Untitled)

[jack_pride]

Sexually active gay men no longer allowed to donate organs

How incredibly horrid. I want to protest. How the heck do I protest this? It's so incredibly offensive; I feel absolutely heartsick.

Link from pseudohistorian.

Comments

[3jane]

It's disgusting, infuriating, and an extension of the already-extant policy that forbids gay men from donating blood. There are protest groups organized against the blood donation policy (I belong to the one through Facebook), but it's an uphill battle.

Just for contrast, I am totally allowed to donate blood and organs, and I'm not sure they could make much distinction between my sex life and that of most of the gay guys I know.

[abbylee]

I was originally going to say, that I thought they still ask the "have you slept with a man who has slept with a man since 1977" question when you're giving blood. But research informs me that the questions are actually as follows:18. Male donors: Have you had sex with a man, even one time since 1977?
21. Female donors: In the last 12 months, have you had sex with a man who had sex, even one time since 1977 with another man?
It just does not make sense that they're still this dumb about it. (Also kills me for complete lack of logic: In the past 6 months, have you had sex with someone whose sexual background you don’t know?) I also always notice that if you've taken money for sex even once since 1977 you can't donate, but you're safe if you've paid money for sex as long as it was more than a year ago. I have no problems with prescreening questions, and I do think there's a good case for erring on the side of caution, but that range of requirements makes no sense.

[jack_pride]

Oh, I have no problem with the idea of pre-screening either; my problem is with the stereotyping involved.

More logical questions, just off the top of my head:

Have you had unprotected sex in the last year? With more than one partner?
How long ago was your last STI test? Was is clean?

[abbylee]

I didn't actually think any of us were going "you can't prescreen!" I more meant that not only is it so fucking overtly homophobic (among other things), but that you might as well not prescreen with the way they ask the questions. Because apparently someone who doesn't even know their partners' sexual history is less of a risk than someone who follows safer sex practices and sleeps with queer men who do the same.

[quinn222]

That is appalling. Wrong headed, infuriating, I could go on. Not to mention the 'injection drug users' too. That knocks me out of the pool too and I have a prescription for the drug I take and only use new, sterile needles and have never re-used one or shared one.

[jack_pride]

I suppose it's giving them too much benefit of the doubt to assume that your prescription drug would harm the blood? But you're right, they should definitely discriminate between prescription drugs and illegal substances.

[pseudohistorian]

*sigh*

As frustrating and offensive (and contradictory, as mentioned) such a policy is, I would have no idea how to protest it effectively. Has the Facebook group made any progress on the blood donation policy?

[jack_pride]

I don't know; I'm not on Facebook. But I've emailed Egale Canada to ask if they're addressing the issue or have any suggestions for how we can.

[abbylee]

I assumed and am continuing to assume that you'll pass on information when you have it.

[jack_pride]

You assume correctly. :)

[ddr_pickles]

Thank goodness all the gay men who haven't gotten any action since 1976 can still donate blood.

[jack_pride]

And their organs if they die. Of course, if they haven't had sex since 1976, their organs may be just a bit wrinkly. :P