So I went to give blood today

[dsc]

Now it has been widely reported that the standard for giving blood has changed. Supposedly gay men would only be deferred for one year. I called the national red cross line and was told that even though the wording hadn't changed on their website, I would be able to give. I would be asked if I had had sex with a male even once since 1977. I would say yes, then would be asked when the last time was. well, that isn't what happened. I was asked, said yes, then was asked if it was rape/abuse, or consensual. I answered the 2nd. then I was asked the last date, gave it. then came back with an indefinite deferral. (all of the questions are on computer now) so what is up? any idea. I asked red cross on facebook, no answer yet.

[redstatebluegirl]

1. A friend of mine was denied in Oklahoma recently.

He has O neg like I do, they really need that universal type. They have called me 3 times in the past year to help out in an emergency. I do not get it.

[dsc]

4. I am O neg as well

I used to give regularly but stopped when I became advisor to a GSA and figured lying publicly about my orientation was a bad example.

[redstatebluegirl]

6. I lost a lot of friends during the beginning of the aids epidemic.

I think they know so much more now than they did. The tests are better. I don't think you should have to wait to donate. Discouraging good people from donating is just wrong.

[dsc]

8. when they first put the ban in I understood it

and didn't give for a good time after but then the accurate tests came out. I know my status and fit the new standard in any case. At the least they should be honest.

[redstatebluegirl]

9. Yes they should!

[sharp_stick]

2. I don't know when they're

going to get this changed and I have no idea why they aren't changing it faster. It's stupid as hell.

[Bay Boy]

3. Sounds rather intrusive...

... next they will ask for pictures.

[elleng]

5. Sounds like a failure of bureaucracy,

which is very common, in all endeavors. (I may be wrong.)

[dsc]

7. this was announced as a done deal in Dec

I made the calls in April or May when my school was having a blood drive. I wound up not being able to give then due to my plan period being before they were set up. I know things can move slowly but this is absurd.

[elleng]

10. Yes, absurd, I agree.

[LeftyMom]

11. It looks like the answer is bureaucracy.

On December 21, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration changed the policy by replacing the indefinite deferral with a 1-year deferral.[81] The change was proposed the previous July.[93][94] Nevertheless, as of May 2016, the American Red Cross reports that the organization is not accepting blood donations from men who have sex with men, because putting the approved proposal into effect requires training and computer upgrades for which several months are needed.[95]
On May 27, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved of a new blood donor history questionnaire for general use by blood establishments, which is compatible with the deferral for 12 months.[96] Before this update, the approved questionnaires were compatible only with an indefinite deferral of blood donations from MSM.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_who_have_sex_with_men_blood_donor_controversy

The change to the deferral policy was approved in December, but the updated screening questionnaire was only approved in late May, so I'm guessing that the new policy implementation is imminent, in that it will happen sometime between now and when the ice caps finish melting.

And of course there are eleventy skillion regional blood banks, and some of them will probably take their sweet time on implementation.

[dsc]

12. thanks that helps a bit

but they had changed the questionaire since I was giving blood that whole consensual thing wasn't there when I gave.