MobBoss
Off-Topic Overlord
Which is why they ask every man if he's had sex with another man - not that if he is 'gay'.
Effeminate man rejected from donating blood
- Thread starter NovaKart
- Start date
Which is why they ask every man if he's had sex with another man - not that if he is 'gay'.
classical_hero
In whom I trust
@MB Neither did I. 
A bit of a cross post but that was intended for the post below Form's one.
A bit of a cross post but that was intended for the post below Form's one.
Formaldehyde
Both Fair And Balanced
That is apparently out-of-date information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV_test
Are you attacking the credibility of Dr. Caplan and the rest of the medical experts who apparently disagree with you? Do you have any actual proof that they are incorrect?
MobBoss
Off-Topic Overlord
Apparently wikipedia trumps the CDC now?
What other 'medical experts'?
GhostWriter16
Deity
Well, they CAN but they'd certainly be less likely to.
That said, "Have you had gay sex," would be a better question than "Are you gay" TBH.
Traitorfish
The Tighnahulish Kid
Oh, yes, yes, I'm aware of that (been to a blood donation thingy meself, although I got refused 'cos I'd had surgery to recently
)- I was just commenting on this case in particular.
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
How does it protect anyone if it's not a very good indicator of who's gay and who isn't?
MobBoss
Off-Topic Overlord
Oh, yes, yes, I'm aware of that (been to a blood donation thingy meself, although I got refused 'cos I'd had surgery to recently
Heh, did you feel 'discriminated against' in that process?
Traitorfish
The Tighnahulish Kid
No, because I hate needles and was glad for the excuse.Heh, did you feel 'discriminated against' in that process?
I don't see why whether something is or isn't a right makes any difference. It's not a right to have a driver's license or own a home but if someone is pevented from doing those things because of sex, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation then it is discrimination.
I'm sure some of you will respond with - epileptic people and blind people can't get a drivers license but the risk here is greater than with someone donating blood which can and should be tested.
I also agree that this isn't nearly as important as marriage rights but I don't think we have to limit ourselves to discussing only the most important issues.
I'm sure some of you will respond with - epileptic people and blind people can't get a drivers license but the risk here is greater than with someone donating blood which can and should be tested.
I also agree that this isn't nearly as important as marriage rights but I don't think we have to limit ourselves to discussing only the most important issues.
MobBoss
Off-Topic Overlord
Sex, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation doesnt affect how you drive a car. But as regards blood pathogens, your sexual behavior can be a factor.
Do we allow muslim women to have their drivers license photo taken while wearing a burkha?
No? Isnt that discrimination? Yes. But there is a valid reason for that discrimination.
Again, not all discrimination is unlawful or even a bad idea. Sometimes it makes good sense.
How is the risk greater? What risk?
Your right, we dont. But neither should we feign importance upon something that simply isnt.
It's easy to justify discrimination when you're not the one being discriminated against.
Kind of convenient when it goes along with your religious and political values too.
Having a blood sample that you can test vs someone possibly having a seizure while driving, yeah totally comparable.
If it's so unimportant why are you even reading this thread?
Kind of convenient when it goes along with your religious and political values too.
Having a blood sample that you can test vs someone possibly having a seizure while driving, yeah totally comparable.
If it's so unimportant why are you even reading this thread?
Ekolite
Deity
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2007
- Messages
- 5,451
It is possible for the HIV virus not to show up in testing if the donor caught the virus within a window of three weeks before testing, and sometimes apparently up to as much as 6 months. With MSM 44 times more likely to have the virus then other men I don't see how you can possibly be against this ban.
Would you really prefer to give a bunch of people HIV through their blood transfusions?
It's a non-argument it reallly is.
Would you really prefer to give a bunch of people HIV through their blood transfusions?
It's a non-argument it reallly is.
It doesn't justify a blanket (not Michael Jackson's son) ban on all men who have had sex with men. Someone could be in a long term relationship with a partner and a straight guy could have promiscuous sex every night and he would still get to donate.
It also doesn't mention what kind of sex, a gay couple could have just done oral and a straight couple could have gone into anal territory.
It also doesn't mention what kind of sex, a gay couple could have just done oral and a straight couple could have gone into anal territory.
MobBoss
Off-Topic Overlord
Or when it makes a crapload of good sense to do it.
I dont have a political view for denying someone giving blood based upon the iron level of their blood, or their current blood pressure, recently having surgery (as was already mentioned) or any of the myriad issues that can prevent someone from donating blood, and yet I can see the wisdom of preventing them from donating.
This has nothing to do with religious or political views at all. Do you allege the stats given by the CDC have religious or political reasons? No? Then stop making false allegations about arguements that have no bearing on the issue at hand.
Uhm. last I checked we have tests for vision and epilepsy too (and other medical reasons that might deny you a drivers license). So yeah, it is rather comparable.
Its what I like to get out of OT.
It would seem the advisory board on this (i.e. the experts) seem to disagree with you. I do too.
True, and yet, you still cant argue the stats on this from the CDC. It is what it is.
MobBoss
Off-Topic Overlord
The CDC is the agency that probably knows more about disease rates than any other organization in the USA.
Nor are they analogous to Anita Bryant or Pat Boone. They have no ideological card to play in all this. Again, the information is simply how it is. Gay men have an HIV rate 44 times that of non-gay men. And to most reasonable people, that stat right there is reason enough to deny them as a demograph being able to donate blood. Assuredly there are many other factors that ALSO result in a denial to donate blood and I dont see why we should make an exception simply for gay men just to make them happy.
If gay men want to donate blood, then let them, as a demograph, get that HIV rate down to a level comparitive with other demographs. Then they can donate to their hearts content. Until then....not so much.
This is simply incorrect. Anal sex is defined as risky (or high risk) sex done by any demograph. The kind of sex, and rate thereof does matter.
Loppan Torkel
Deity
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2004
- Messages
- 4,756
Would it be less discriminatory to let risk groups pay for more extensive tests for the safety of the patients? Of course, people might start to lie if there's an extra cost you can avoid....
I'll still support what the medical expertise deem necessary rather than any lobby groups.
I'll still support what the medical expertise deem necessary rather than any lobby groups.
