Gay Blood Donor Ban Opposed By American Medical Association

[DriftingCrow]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/20/gay-blood-donor-ban_n_3473844.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
No author listed, Source: Huffington Post

The American Medical Association has condemned the FDA's practice of banning all blood donation from gay men, citing that the ban is "discriminatory" and "not based on sound science". The ban was originally put in place in 1983 during the AIDS epidemic when there was no sound test for HIV/AIDS in donated blood. Now, all blood is routinely tested for the virus.

[Simon]

When I was living in Colorado I had tried to do plasma donation and was refused based on my trans status. This was around 2003. Also before I knew about my genetic condition (which can't be passed through blood anyways). I passed the test they do for iron and everything. Got to the physical and was asked what was under my shirt. I explained about my binder, the nurse left, came back in with a supervisor, and I was told that I would not be able to donate. It's not just gay men who get that crap.

[vegie271]

Same thing with trans women, they REQUIRED me to date men when I first transitioned to get HRT, then they said I could not give because I was a (get this) "man" who had slept with a man, bull, I was a woman when I dated that man. AND I used condoms AND I was tested fully!