Regarding the donation of blood: The Red Cross' rule about no gay men giving blood if they have had sex with another man any time after 1977 is ancient and unnecessary. Gay men are no longer in the largest risk group.
This is a peeve of mine as well. At my work--where there are plenty of ex-military and conservative types who thrive on the heroism of giving blood--there is always someone walking up and down the hall asking, "Did you give blood? You're going to go down and give blood, right? The truck's downstairs." It's just wrong. It's an invasion of my personal medical history, even if it's perpheral.
Luckily, I'm in a group now that knows about me and doesn't push those buttons. But I think the Red Cross ought to reconsider it's HIV prevention policies. And companies who are reputedly "gay friendly" ought to reconsider having the Red Cross come and set up a bloodmobile until they present a solid argument why gay men ought to refrain from giving blood.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2005-10-27 01:07 am (UTC)This is a peeve of mine as well. At my work--where there are plenty of ex-military and conservative types who thrive on the heroism of giving blood--there is always someone walking up and down the hall asking, "Did you give blood? You're going to go down and give blood, right? The truck's downstairs." It's just wrong. It's an invasion of my personal medical history, even if it's perpheral.
Luckily, I'm in a group now that knows about me and doesn't push those buttons. But I think the Red Cross ought to reconsider it's HIV prevention policies. And companies who are reputedly "gay friendly" ought to reconsider having the Red Cross come and set up a bloodmobile until they present a solid argument why gay men ought to refrain from giving blood.