Donate blood

Unfair, yes. Unfounded, no.

Have you ever seen the blood collection things? They're packed, with good numbers of people waiting in case anyone misses an appointment.

Gay people have a much higher risk of HIV. Taking a gay person, means taking one less straight person because they're busy enough.
If they can only take one of those lots of blood, why would they take the one with a much higher risk of HIV, leaving them a donation down if you are one of the minority?

Yes, it's horrific discrimination, but unfounded? Far from it. It would be amazing if they could staff up enough to be able to take more donations, and if it gets to that point where there is free time on the collections, they should definitely get rid of that ruling. But for now, they need the blood, so they'd be idiots to take blood from gay people when it would reduce usable stocks. For anything else you'd have a point, but they need as much of the stuff as possible, it's for saving people's lives.

I've done it once, and I'll definitely be doing it again. It honestly didn't hurt at all - it was more painful pulling the plaster off afterwards than actually donating blood. If you're able to do it, you really should I think. Not enough people do it - when I went to donate, the room was almost empty. There were probably about 10 people maximum there the whole time I was there, which was a while.

Also, they give you lots of biscuits and stickers afterwards

Unfair, yes. Unfounded, no.

Have you ever seen the blood collection things? They're packed, with good numbers of people waiting in case anyone misses an appointment.

Gay people have a much higher risk of HIV. Taking a gay person, means taking one less straight person because they're busy enough.
If they can only take one of those lots of blood, why would they take the one with a much higher risk of HIV, leaving them a donation down if you are one of the minority?

Yes, it's horrific discrimination, but unfounded? Far from it. It would be amazing if they could staff up enough to be able to take more donations, and if it gets to that point where there is free time on the collections, they should definitely get rid of that ruling. But for now, they need the blood, so they'd be idiots to take blood from gay people when it would reduce usable stocks. For anything else you'd have a point, but they need as much of the stuff as possible, it's for saving people's lives.

Did you do it at the centre next to the Tron? They were lovely there!

Was very busy when I did it, people queueing, but still got seen within 15mins...it was lunch time and everything!

No, it was back home - I meant to do it again at the QM when they were having a blood drive but it got cancelled.

Yeah, I was going to do it then. Then I was going to do it at the Murano blood drive, but had a cold. Finally I did it at the permanent blood donation place next to the Tron. Don't even have to make an appointment, just drop in! Shall give blood in a year (as have had piercing...) or may just do it in 4 months in England (as they allow you to give blood sooner after a piercing than Scotland!)

I might pop down there at some point then! Close enough to my accommodation to be able to walk back without risking fainting which is always good! I'll see if there's a session on near me during the holidays though, there probably will be one as there's a fair few centres close to my house.

I donate blood. And I'm terrified of needle, so I don't take that as an excuse for people not donating, the first time I did, I fainted and threw up twice. But I do it every 4 months, it take five minutes (not to mention free tea and biscuits!) and I'm actually a million times less scared than I was before, I don't exactly enjoy it, but 5 mins of discomfort is nothing compared to someone dying because they need that extra bit of blood. I think everyone should do it.

23 times donated. A- platelet donor Feels great, do it every chance I get