Santa Clara (Calif.) County officials oppose ban on blood donations from gay men

[Newsjock]

Source: Bay City News Service

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors today agreed to oppose a Food and Drug Administration ban on blood donations by gay men, but stopped short of banning blood drives on county property.

The FDA's rules ban men who have had sex with other men from donating blood. Earlier this year San Jose State University president Don Kassing announced a campus-wide prohibition of blood drives on the basis of a non-discrimination policy at the school. The announcement created a stir with critics saying the policy would inadvertently reduce the amount of blood collected in the community. County officials, while agreeing with the sentiment of the school's policy, believe that disallowing blood drives will have a larger, negative impact on the community.

"We would hurt ourselves by banning blood drives," said Peter Kutras, county executive. "To ban drives now hurts our region's blood supply."

County officials stated that blood banks believe there is no need to impose a lifetime ban on gay men, and instead limit the ban to one year.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8368973

[LostinVA]

1. There shouldn't be any time ban

Gay men aren't any more prone to HIV than straight people. Unprotected sex is the problem. I can't wait until this homophobic policy is entirely done away with.

[Mojorabbit]

2. I have MS and

I am banned from giving blood.

[MikeNearMcChord]

6. When I was in the army in the 80's, the fact that I

was stationed in Germany and visited England has me deferred from giving blood.(fear of exposure to mad cow disease)

[Mojorabbit]

7. Yes, they are taking no chances

they aren't sure what causes MS so on the off chance it might be viral they don't want my blood.
My sister was stationed in England and she can't donate either.

[Der Blaue Engel]

3. "To ban drives now hurts our region's blood supply."

Hey, clown: To ban gays now (or ever) hurts our region's blood supply. And it has been doing so for at least a quarter of a century.

Sincerely,
A universal donor whose blood is not wanted due to a bisexual male partner

[xchrom]

4. recommend

[MsKandice01]

5. If they're going to ban gays from giving blood...

They also need to ban any heterosexual who engages in anal sex, if they're so concerned about the risk factor for HIV. It's the anal sex that increases the risk, not the sexual orientation.