I can’t donate because I lived in Germany too long as a child. It sucks.

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same, i can't donate blood in canada because i grew up in France during mad-cow disease. :/

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same. My entire immediate family is excluded as well. It's nuts.

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I just found out I’m not able to donate my organs bc of this and was super bummed out, like great I just get to rot.

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You could still donate your body to science!

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What's the issue with Germany?

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I currently live in China and am wondering how it'll affect my eligibility in the future.

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Hasn’t this always been the rule?

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No. There was a lifetime ban on gay men donating beginning in 1983, at the start of the AIDS epidemic. In 2015, the 12-month celibacy rule replaced it. And it's still not okay.

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Thanks for this insight!

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The point being that the contest should be something every fan can participate in

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I mean, even if that was the case, that doesn't make it any less idiotic and discriminatory.

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DB showing true colors putting discriminatory in quotes

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I mean, it's a risk group so I get it. Though it's hella awkward when I donate blood and every time they pull me aside and have to ask about my sexual history lol

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Here's more info on why the ban isn't based in science/logic:



"Today’s blood screening technology detects HIV within nine to 14 days of exposure with near-perfect sensitivity. Advances in research on HIV transmission also have provided highly reliable methods for determining if someone is at risk of recent infection based on their behaviors, not sexual orientation."



Edited at 2019-03-07 10:49 pm (UTC) It still frames HIV/AIDS as a gay men's issue, which it isn't.Here's more info on why the ban isn't based in science/logic: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-cuneo-gay-blood-donor-20180705-story.html "Today’s blood screening technology detects HIV within nine to 14 days of exposure with near-perfect sensitivity. Advances in research on HIV transmission also have provided highly reliable methods for determining if someone is at risk of recent infection based on their behaviors, not sexual orientation."

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gay guys are way more likely to be infected with hiv than other groups. that's just a fact. and yes they test it anyway so I think it's somewhat unnecessary, but it's not like it's simply based on homophobia, even if it feels like it

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I agree with you HIV isn't a gay issue and the ban is in part a throw back to the 1980's.



However, it isn't as simple as saying it is a throwback. Part of the issue of blood donation is trust and because they screw up in the past of those receiving blood getting HIV it is easier to say that at risk groups are banned to show the blood banks are doing something about ensuring safety. So gay men are hit because like it or not with new and emerging diseases, gay men are one of the first groups it is probably going to be diagnosed in. That doesn't mean they will be more at risk in real terms, as shown these days with HIV infection, but because they are more likely to go get checked if something is wrong because of the past.



Secondly something like the taking of something like PrEP which is becoming more more popular may interfere with testing so making results from mandatory testing unreliable.



Thirdly and this isn't just at gay men but all blood donors - there are some that don't fill out the medical questionnaires with correct information because they either forget, don't think information is relevant or the question is not framed in a way that gives them an understanding of what is being asked. So to ensure trust in the blood products it may be deemed easier to exclude groups rather than spend time to educate donors in how to correctly give the correct information.





Though the question in the future though may not be about gay blood donation it will eventually happen given time. The more interesting question in the future will be the guidelines regarding gender and donation and how that will be handled as time goes forward because they probably will expand.



Edited at 2019-03-07 11:25 pm (UTC)

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this is a great idea/promo for the team-up but the restrictions really do suck. it's not like gay men are the only ones capable of having HIV. don't they test blood to make sure it's safe before using it? i can't imagine whatever small amount that may get tossed is worth refusing donations from many who are willing and able.

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Hmm that's terrible event management & communications.



Also, I've only been a part of one blood drive and they were fucking awful. I have eczema and some slight discolouration on my arms due to steroids creams and such. The person taking my blood looked at me in disgust and was so rude basically implying I was a drug addict?? Anyway, I was very young so I didn't have the agency to call em out on it but looking back it was an awful experience and it's put me off from ever donating blood again.

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i read that 1 in 2 gay/bi black men will get hiv and 1 in 11 gay/bi white men will. in comparison to 1 in 20 for black straight men and 1 in 132 for white straight men. for women it's 1 in 32 for black women and 1 in 526 for white women.



as a black woman, it's disheartening to read that my race is a risk factor so i can only imagine what it feels like to categorically be unable to donate because of it. but the statistics for black gay men are staggering so i guess that's how they justify it.



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Wtf? Did the thing you read give any reasons for that?

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lack of resources, lower socioeconomic status/poverty, marginalization/stigma, smaller sexual networks, incarceration

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Those rates (other than for straight white people) are a lot higher than I thought they'd be. :(

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damn that's depressing

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Awful and disgusting that this law is still in effect. This should have been immediately set to repeal after Pulse-I've been in Orlando for almost 20 years and while I'm grateful for the overwhelming support the city turned out the day after, lining up to donate blood to help the victims, it was enraging to know most of the loved ones and friends of those involved in the shooting were barred from helping them.

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I always think of this episode when the topic is discussed

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A king. He and Craig should have hooked up!

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Yep lol

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How do you have a blood-giving contest that's random and not based on the person who gives the most blood? They should add a little excitement to the mix.

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lmao

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Lmao

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LOL when you tell them to stop and they keep going.

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Looool

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Lmfao

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lmao

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that you peggy hill / Minh Souphanousiphone?

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Ugh. A lot of rules for blood donation seem really outdated. Half of my friends that want to donate can't cause of various reasons.

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my sister wants to donate, but she has travelled and will continue travelling to some areas that exclude you from donating. I can't anymore cause they upped the hemoglobin requirement.

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IDK if it's a worldwide rule but the piercing/tattoo rule is super annoying.



I don't donate anymore anyway because they can never find my veins.

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Agreed. It's been awhile since I've checked the exact wait period (it was a year I think?), but since I get tattoos/piercings on a regular enough basis that I'm always "disqualified" or whatever, so I basically just gave up on donating :/ at least for now.

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I knew this was the case a few years ago when my brother was donating. I thought we had moved past this. Especially when some heterosexual dude was accused of being HIV+ and donating blood to spread the disease in the 2000s.

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It was out in BC I think. I could be misremembering it.

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It's not super-common, but there are some people who get pleasure/satisfaction from infecting other people.

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I mean GoT is the ultimate straight male tv show so of course they wouldn't care/think too deeply about something like this.



It's fucked up and nonsensical that these restrictions are still in place

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i gave blood to the red cross once and i'll never do it again. i have a rare blood type and for like 3 years after my donation i would get these phone calls like "there's a 5 year child DYING in a hospital in your area and they need YOUR blood to live" and other fucked up messages

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what type?

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a negative

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that’s a little intimidating but that seems normal? i’m signed up as a bone marrow donor and know i could get called up at any time to help

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What? That sounds really strange. One time I did receive a text message of them telling they needed my blood, but that was followed up by an invitation via the post to invite me to donate at their official location, as it should be

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Isn't O- the universal donor? I thought that was what they wanted most.



Edited at 2019-03-07 11:14 pm (UTC)

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