This discussion is now closed.
Check out other Related discussions
- BTS vs BLACKPINK
- Gender neutral period tracking apps?
- TMUA help!
- 6th form clothes
- I’m gonna quit Alchol
- #Hot Topics: Which band do you prefer out of the iconic bands listed below? (Group A)
- makeup for brown girl (cheap)
- I just gave blood AMA
- Tired for no reason
- GENUINE QUESTION - Why are AQA English Literature Exam papers pink??
- Make it More Blood-ey !!
- Happy Valentines Day!
- aqa English gcse year 11 paper 1
- Macbeth theme of guilt essay edexcel gcse
- Nursing with fear of needles
- WJEC GCSE English Literature (AIC and Heroes)
- AQA A-Level Biology Paper 3 (7402/3) - 19th June 2024 [Exam Chat]
- mum FORCED me to sign a (legal?!) contract to become a doctor or face DOOR removal😭
- Wearing a hat in lectures and classrooms?
- Best pen you've ever used?
Pink Blood is Just as Good!
I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but if you are gay, then you cannot give blood. This is because there is a stereotype that HIV/AIDS is a "gay disease".
The truth is that HIV is actually a virus, which doesn't pick on gays. It is a virus that heterosexual people can get too. And one has to ask why heterosexual people can give blood when they may contaminate the blood supply with HIV.
In all honesty, I believe that restrictions on iving blood should be limited to people whoare HIV positive, rather than just saying outright "Oh, well, gays all have AIDS, so lets stop them from giving blood."
It is ridiculous, if you ask me. Blood is blood, and as long as it dosn't have CJD, HIV, or any other nasties in, then I'm happy for it to be transfused into my body in the event of a severe accident, regardles of whether the donor was gay or straight.
I'm straight myself, and I must admit, I have never given blood, mainly because needles scare the living crap out of me, but I honestly don't see why there's a need for a legal requirement that bars gays from giving blood.
If they're going to insist that blood must not be from men who have sex with other men, then I don't see why they're saying that all donated blood must be from virgins. I'd feel a hell of alot safer from that.
The truth is that HIV is actually a virus, which doesn't pick on gays. It is a virus that heterosexual people can get too. And one has to ask why heterosexual people can give blood when they may contaminate the blood supply with HIV.
In all honesty, I believe that restrictions on iving blood should be limited to people whoare HIV positive, rather than just saying outright "Oh, well, gays all have AIDS, so lets stop them from giving blood."
It is ridiculous, if you ask me. Blood is blood, and as long as it dosn't have CJD, HIV, or any other nasties in, then I'm happy for it to be transfused into my body in the event of a severe accident, regardles of whether the donor was gay or straight.
I'm straight myself, and I must admit, I have never given blood, mainly because needles scare the living crap out of me, but I honestly don't see why there's a need for a legal requirement that bars gays from giving blood.
If they're going to insist that blood must not be from men who have sex with other men, then I don't see why they're saying that all donated blood must be from virgins. I'd feel a hell of alot safer from that.
Scroll to see replies
Reply 1
There's a huge thing going on at my uni with the LGBTsociety.
I don't understand why any man who has had sex with another man cannot give blood. The chances of it passing are just the same as between a man and a woman.
I'm all for everyone who can, and wants, to give blood, to be able to.
I wish I had the nerve myself! I'm ashamed that I never have, but once I get over the phobia of needles I'll go!
I don't understand why any man who has had sex with another man cannot give blood. The chances of it passing are just the same as between a man and a woman.
I'm all for everyone who can, and wants, to give blood, to be able to.
I wish I had the nerve myself! I'm ashamed that I never have, but once I get over the phobia of needles I'll go!
Reply 2
14
pixiepeep
The chances of it passing are just the same as between a man and a woman.
they're not, I can't remember the exact figures off hand, but the chances of it transfering through anal sex are an awful lot high.
Reply 3
Just statistics mate, not homophobia.
Reply 4
"The vagina is waaaay more lubricated than the anus"...As proudly proclaimed by my wonderfully inept ex-bio teacher. He taught us nothing else, but hell, he drove this one home.
The idea being that the walls of the anus will tear more readily, so the virus has a higher chance of being passed on through anal, rather than vaginal, sex.
*Now if only they'd had the topic "sexual relations" in the exam last year, our class would have got somewhere!
The idea being that the walls of the anus will tear more readily, so the virus has a higher chance of being passed on through anal, rather than vaginal, sex.*Now if only they'd had the topic "sexual relations" in the exam last year, our class would have got somewhere!
Reply 5
pixiepeep
There's a huge thing going on at my uni with the LGBTsociety.
I don't understand why any man who has had sex with another man cannot give blood. The chances of it passing are just the same as between a man and a woman.
I'm all for everyone who can, and wants, to give blood, to be able to.
I wish I had the nerve myself! I'm ashamed that I never have, but once I get over the phobia of needles I'll go!
I don't understand why any man who has had sex with another man cannot give blood. The chances of it passing are just the same as between a man and a woman.
I'm all for everyone who can, and wants, to give blood, to be able to.
I wish I had the nerve myself! I'm ashamed that I never have, but once I get over the phobia of needles I'll go!
actually the chance of passing it is higher - you are talking SEX here not needles. penetrative sex between men is higher risk than man woman - for both receiver and giver.
You and LGBT are just being PC. Its pure stats. yoes there were more new hiv cases in straight people than gay last year, but simple fact is you take 100 straight guys, 100 gay guys, and 100 IV drug using guys and you will have far higher hiv infection percentages in gay and iv users than straight.
collecting and subsequent disposal of infected blood takes time and money. it may be that the techniques now used mean it would be cost efficient to use 'pink blood' where once it was not.
but if it is then the health services will change their policy. they're not homophobic, they simply are putting the interests of their paiotents first.
Reply 6
19
I'm not sure, if your blood is pink, it sounds as if you are ill...
Probably should ban blue blood too.
Probably should ban blue blood too.
Reply 7
The blood service are crying out for people to donate blood and there must be so many people who want to give blood because of rules such as this!
It also annoys me that you cant give blood for six months- a year after having your ears pierced!
It also annoys me that you cant give blood for six months- a year after having your ears pierced!
Reply 8
They are crying out for donations but most people I meet say they are too scared of needles to go give blood. What a load of crap. There should be a new rule, unless you have a medical reason for you not to give blood then you don't get blood either.
Reply 9
So you'd be happy for people to die because they haven't given blood before? It's not crap about people being scared of needles, its hardly going to be any good is it if someone faints in the middle of giving blood, and they use a bloody huge needle to do it. and ok, maybe some people do just use that excuse because they can't be bothered or whatever, but you can't deny people something that might save their life if they needed it!
Reply 10
oneeyedandgreen
The blood service are crying out for people to donate blood and there must be so many people who want to give blood because of rules such as this!
It also annoys me that you cant give blood for six months- a year after having your ears pierced!
It also annoys me that you cant give blood for six months- a year after having your ears pierced!
Yeah, but actually their problem is with attracting people who CAN give nut don't - only 6% of the eligible population donates.
(More people really do need to give! Stop being wusses about needles!)They do have to have some restrictions, there's no point getting people to give blood that you can't use!
I'm not at all homophobic, but I always thought that there was a good reason for men who have slept with other men, 'even only once or a long time ago' etc being unable to give. They do need more donors so it seems unlikely that they'd turn away people if it weren't a genuine reason - plus if they didn't have good medical reasons for it they'd be absolutely slammed for discrimination.
What i don't get is how women are supposed to know if anyone they've slept with might have slept with a man...it's hardly the sort of thing you're likely to ask in the throes of passion, 'Oh, btw, I'm a blood donor so I won't sleep with you unless you can certify absolutely that you have never slept with a man/done drugs etc'...seems like the kind of thing that most people are unlikely to bring up at the start of a relationship!
Reply 11
It all comes down to cost - the percentage of the gay and IV injecting communities have a higher percentage of HIV and Hep B than others. This makes the cost of taking and testing blood from people in these communities higher.
EDIT: I stand corrected - there is a possibility of infected blood getting through the screening process, so the measures are presumably used to reduce the chance of this.
EDIT: I stand corrected - there is a possibility of infected blood getting through the screening process, so the measures are presumably used to reduce the chance of this.
Reply 12
20
oneeyedandgreen
The blood service are crying out for people to donate blood and there must be so many people who want to give blood because of rules such as this!
It also annoys me that you cant give blood for six months- a year after having your ears pierced!
It also annoys me that you cant give blood for six months- a year after having your ears pierced!
There are reasons why they have all these regulations - they're not just being stingy. The thing about gay people not being able to give blood is that there is a much higher percentage prevalence of HIV in the gay population - hence a greater risk that blood would be infected. It's about risk reduction; if you know one group is more likely to be infected than another (that's just facts, not prejudice!) then you prevent that group from donating. Current testing procedures are still not 100% and so they have to reduce the risk of someone getting HIV through blood transfusion as much as they can.
Reply 13
oneeyedandgreen
The blood service are crying out for people to donate blood and there must be so many people who want to give blood because of rules such as this!
It also annoys me that you cant give blood for six months- a year after having your ears pierced!
It also annoys me that you cant give blood for six months- a year after having your ears pierced!
perhaps you should voice this anger at some of the poor barstads that contracted HepC from donated blood.
Reply 14
I don't think the main problem is getting people to donate blood that can but just don't really want to. I'm sure someone has already said this.
Ive given blood a few times before, in all honesty I should have done it more, and I don't like needles. I believe unless you really are afraid of needles and faint at the sight of them then you should really give blood. Ive never met a person who has actually enjoyed giving blood but it is something you really should do, so why don't people just look the other way or keep themselves occupied whilst donating, by listenin to music or even chattin to someone.
Ive given blood a few times before, in all honesty I should have done it more, and I don't like needles. I believe unless you really are afraid of needles and faint at the sight of them then you should really give blood. Ive never met a person who has actually enjoyed giving blood but it is something you really should do, so why don't people just look the other way or keep themselves occupied whilst donating, by listenin to music or even chattin to someone.
Reply 15
11
meeeee
So you'd be happy for people to die because they haven't given blood before? It's not crap about people being scared of needles, its hardly going to be any good is it if someone faints in the middle of giving blood, and they use a bloody huge needle to do it. and ok, maybe some people do just use that excuse because they can't be bothered or whatever, but you can't deny people something that might save their life if they needed it!
I am actually technically ineligible to give blood anyway, so even if I wanted to give blood, I couldn't.
I'm being honest here about my needle aversion thing. It means that I would struggle if I ever did have a heroin addiction, but also, giving blood isn't one of those things on my priority list. Of course, if I happened o be not freaked out by needles, and I was actually eligible, I probably would give blood.
Reply 16
BlackpoolCraig
I am actually technically ineligible to give blood anyway, so even if I wanted to give blood, I couldn't.
I'm being honest here about my needle aversion thing. It means that I would struggle if I ever did have a heroin addiction, but also, giving blood isn't one of those things on my priority list. Of course, if I happened o be not freaked out by needles, and I was actually eligible, I probably would give blood.
I'm being honest here about my needle aversion thing. It means that I would struggle if I ever did have a heroin addiction, but also, giving blood isn't one of those things on my priority list. Of course, if I happened o be not freaked out by needles, and I was actually eligible, I probably would give blood.
same here - i recieved a blood transfusion int he 1980s.
stiull, i gt p***ed off having to explain that to people everytime they try to guilt me into giving blood.
Reply 17
BlackpoolCraig
I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but if you are gay, then you cannot give blood. This is because there is a stereotype that HIV/AIDS is a "gay disease".
The truth is that HIV is actually a virus, which doesn't pick on gays. It is a virus that heterosexual people can get too. And one has to ask why heterosexual people can give blood when they may contaminate the blood supply with HIV.
In all honesty, I believe that restrictions on iving blood should be limited to people whoare HIV positive, rather than just saying outright "Oh, well, gays all have AIDS, so lets stop them from giving blood."
It is ridiculous, if you ask me. Blood is blood, and as long as it dosn't have CJD, HIV, or any other nasties in, then I'm happy for it to be transfused into my body in the event of a severe accident, regardles of whether the donor was gay or straight.
I'm straight myself, and I must admit, I have never given blood, mainly because needles scare the living crap out of me, but I honestly don't see why there's a need for a legal requirement that bars gays from giving blood.
If they're going to insist that blood must not be from men who have sex with other men, then I don't see why they're saying that all donated blood must be from virgins. I'd feel a hell of alot safer from that.
The truth is that HIV is actually a virus, which doesn't pick on gays. It is a virus that heterosexual people can get too. And one has to ask why heterosexual people can give blood when they may contaminate the blood supply with HIV.
In all honesty, I believe that restrictions on iving blood should be limited to people whoare HIV positive, rather than just saying outright "Oh, well, gays all have AIDS, so lets stop them from giving blood."
It is ridiculous, if you ask me. Blood is blood, and as long as it dosn't have CJD, HIV, or any other nasties in, then I'm happy for it to be transfused into my body in the event of a severe accident, regardles of whether the donor was gay or straight.
I'm straight myself, and I must admit, I have never given blood, mainly because needles scare the living crap out of me, but I honestly don't see why there's a need for a legal requirement that bars gays from giving blood.
If they're going to insist that blood must not be from men who have sex with other men, then I don't see why they're saying that all donated blood must be from virgins. I'd feel a hell of alot safer from that.
Its because people don't want to catch queer disease! (jk)
Reply 18
oneeyedandgreen
The blood service are crying out for people to donate blood and there must be so many people who want to give blood because of rules such as this!
It also annoys me that you cant give blood for six months- a year after having your ears pierced!
It also annoys me that you cant give blood for six months- a year after having your ears pierced!
Yeahs thats a bit of a bitch, i've been out of service cos of that rule for nearly 2 years ...and the other times my iron was too low
Reply 19
KidA
they're not, I can't remember the exact figures off hand, but the chances of it transfering through anal sex are an awful lot high.
Men and women can still have anal sex... just thought i'd point that out.
Related discussions
- BTS vs BLACKPINK
- Gender neutral period tracking apps?
- TMUA help!
- 6th form clothes
- I’m gonna quit Alchol
- #Hot Topics: Which band do you prefer out of the iconic bands listed below? (Group A)
- makeup for brown girl (cheap)
- I just gave blood AMA
- Tired for no reason
- GENUINE QUESTION - Why are AQA English Literature Exam papers pink??
- Make it More Blood-ey !!
- Happy Valentines Day!
- aqa English gcse year 11 paper 1
- Macbeth theme of guilt essay edexcel gcse
- Nursing with fear of needles
- WJEC GCSE English Literature (AIC and Heroes)
- AQA A-Level Biology Paper 3 (7402/3) - 19th June 2024 [Exam Chat]
- mum FORCED me to sign a (legal?!) contract to become a doctor or face DOOR removal😭
- Wearing a hat in lectures and classrooms?
- Best pen you've ever used?
Latest
Trending
Last reply 1 day ago
What food item are you currently craving?Last reply 1 month ago
Domino's pizza personal size vs small sizeLast reply 3 months ago
Am I the only one who hates holidays especially the summer holidays?Last reply 4 months ago
Anyone else been out of work for 9 years in a row?Last reply 4 months ago
parents wont let me take the course i want to takeLast reply 4 months ago
How do I tell my instructor I don't want lessons with her anymore?Last reply 4 months ago
Where can I find good-quality alternatives to luxury fashion clothing?Articles for you
How The Student Room is moderated
To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.
