Kerry: Let Gay Men Give Blood. 1983 Ban Called Outdated, Discriminatory

[seabeyond]

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/22740841/detail.html?hpt=T2




Gay men should be allowed to donate blood and laws banning them from doing so are discriminatory and outdated, according to Sen. John Kerry and several of his Senate colleagues.

"Not a single piece of scientific evidence supports the ban,” Kerry said. “A law that was once considered medically justified is today simply outdated and needs to end."

Kerry was one of 18 U.S. Senators -- 17 Democrats and one independent -- who in a letter on Thursday asked the Food and Drug Administration to lift the ban on gay men donating blood. The ban was put in place in 1983, at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis and before modern screening and advanced testing methods for HIV were developed.

*

In 2008, the Senate passed legislation Kerry authored to lift the statutory HIV travel and immigration ban as part of the President Barack Obama's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief. The ban was officially lifted in October 2009





-----it wasnt that long ago i heard mention that gays denied ability to give blood. heard on a thread at du. i truly could not believe it and did some research.

yes

this is so outdated, discriminatory. needs to be gotten rid of

[seabeyond]

1. kick.... cause. nt