@ Mario: As Jamie stated in the post that he linked to above, HIV rates are also very high among blacks. How do you think banning a race of people from donating blood would go over? Not well, I’d say.

All gay people are not putting themselves at risk of contracting HIV, yet all of us are being lumped into one category. I believe people should be screened for risky behavior, not sexuality.

But, as recently as 2005, HALF the US HIV transmissions were still among gay men. HALF. Check out the CDC reports. I did the last time this issue came up in another blog I follow. See http://www.avert.org/usastatg.htm

Until the gay community, of which I am one, cleans up their act, there is a very justifiable reason for this “discrimination”. And, sad to say, risky behavior is on the RISE.

@ Eco Warrior: That’s a good idea and I’m sure they’d take notice pretty quickly.

@ Mitsu: I agree. I don’t think I’d be picky about who the organ was coming from if I was on one of those transplant lists, as long as it had been thoroughly tested.

@ Alyson: If that woman was that angry, you should be thankful that she didn’t come at you with a needle! And Mad Cow? OMG!

@ Ashley: That’s interesting about the tattoos and piercings. I don’t have a problem with the personal questions, as they are an important part of the screening process, but I do have a big problem with banning an entire group of people.

I agree though, the rules they have do seem rather outdated, especially since they run those tests anyway. Like Brian said, hopefully the more sensitive test will become standard procedure now that something bad has happened.

I have had one experience trying to donate, and it wasn’t good. The bloodmobile was at my church, and we were encouraged to go and attempt to donate, even if we knew we couldn’t give, because it would look good if alot of people made the effort. My son was a few weeks old at the time. We went to the church and there was no line, so I signed in, completely ignoring the hundred page 3 ring binder of information that was on the table. I went up to one of the ladies and sat down. She asked how old my baby was, and I told her. She said, rather smartly, “you can’t donate that close to giving birth, IF you would’ve read the information on the table, you would’ve known that”.

Her attitude completely turned me off of attempting to donate blood. She wasn’t busy, so there was no need for her to be so hateful. Even though that was 5 years ago, I haven’t tried to donate since.

BTW, my husband can’t donate either because he spent time in Europe 20 years ago, which puts him at risk for being a carrier of mad cow disease. LOL. I’m being serious, you can’t make this stuff up.