Issues for Discussion

[kybearfuzz]

Sorry for the double post for the day, but I just remembered two things of interest to share:

First, I was reading in benjiej's journal that Sheryl Swoopes has finallly come out as a lesbian. I read the attached article and Ms. Swoopes doesn't believe that people are born gay. Now, I know that this is a popular debate of sorts. Are we born gay or are we choosing to be gay? It's the standard breeding vs environment discussion. I've heard people give mixed views on this, including several friends. My view is a mix of both, that people are likely born with a gay predisposition and some environmental conditions may trigger it early on. I have no doubt in my mind that I was gay from childhood, having had an attraction to men as early as age seven or eight before I knew was sex was. The theory doesn't fit the varied experiences I've heard of, so maybe the answer isn't so black and white. Your thoughts?

Second, and this strikes a bit closer to home, my office is having our annual blood drive. I dread this every year because of their exclusion of people of "high risk behaviors" for HIV, meaning me and my penchant for sleeping with men. Even though I practice safe sex, the very fact that I have had sex with a man puts me on the permanently deferred roster (not officially as I just don't bother trying to donate anymore). This practice does bug me though. I think of my brothers, each of whom has had unprotected sex in the past and currently, and are perfectly acceptable by current regulations to donate blood, even though they are more likely to have contracted something. The blood mobile arrives next week, but I think I'll try to be working out of the office that day.. ugh... Your thoughts again?

Comments

[md-mancub.livejournal.com]

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.

[benjiej.livejournal.com]

I should point out, as an employee of the Red Cross, that the rule regarding not allowing sexually active gay men to donate blood is NOT a Red Cross policy, but one of the FDA. There are lots of other organizations that collect blood, most of them for-profits, and the rules are the same for them as well.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Sorry Ben, I should have clarified that the deferment exclusion is a federal regulation, not one of the ARC.

[md-mancub.livejournal.com]

Thanks for pointing that out! I didn't know that!

I apologize for spreading mis-information. :)

[benjiej.livejournal.com]

No problem, I didn't know it until I worked there.