Will I Be Allowed To Donate Blood Now?

[Enjolras]

While I was in the USAF, I was stationed in England in 1988-1989. After I got out and returned to the U.S., in the early 90's, there was the revelation of the outbreak of mad cow disease in the U.K. Ever since, the Red Cross has refused to accept blood donations from me, and apparently from anyone who previously lived over there or even spent a week of 2 on vacation there, for fear of contaminating the blood supply.

But now it seems the disease has hit home. Unless the ARC plans to refuse blood donations from Americans who have lived in or visited America, does this mean I will be allowed to donate again?

[Brian_Expat]

1. I feel your pain

I am a gay man who has always been safe, celibate or in a monogamous relationship, and perfectly healthy. I am not allowed to donate blood by simple "virtue" of my sexual orientation by the US Red Cross.

[Skittles]

2. I have donated over 20 gallons of blood

and never ONCE have they asked me DO YOU PRACTICE SAFE SEX or DO YOU SLEEP AROUND? They are obsessed with gay sex, not safe sex, and it truly is not fair.

[Enjolras]

4. There are other questions asked

One time, just before the outbreak in the U.K., I was rejected by the ARC because I had gotten my nose pierced at a tattoo parlor earlier that year. I don't remember if they asked about my sexual orientation, but I'm pretty sure they did ask about unprotected sex. I passed that portion of my "exam".

[AngryAmish]

6. Didn't you become light headed?

Thank, I'll be here all weekend. Tip your bartenders, please.

[Enjolras]

3. Ironic

You'd think that, with all new info that has come to light about HIV, we would have overcome the hysteria by now.

I'm 38 and still single. I'm straight, but when I tell people why I can't donate blood, they sometimes assume I'm lying about the reason. ;-)

[southerngirlwriter]

5. I donated on Christmas Eve....

...and the question I was asked was, "Have you, in the last 12 months, had sex with a man who has had sex with a man?"

*shrug*