SF Weekly: Gay Blood Not Welcome in San Bruno Relief Effort

[marmar]

Blood Centers of the Pacific is reporting that community response to the San Bruno explosion and fire has been outstanding. So outstanding, in fact, that donors are urged to not give blood. They have enough. Come in and give next week or shortly thereafter when they'll need to replenish their current supplies.

But not if you're gay.

Blood Centers of the Pacific has been battling federal regulations for more than a decade. But FDA rules remain unchanged: If "you are a man who has had sex with another man since 1977," you are not eligible to donate blood. Period.

Lisa Bloch, Blood Centers' communications director, says that gay men have not been turned away from donating blood in the San Bruno effort -- because they know about this requirement and don't bother to show up. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2010/09/gay_blood_san_bruno.php

[beyurslf]

1. The crazy thing about this is men who are openly gay are more likely to be

tested. Men who are closeted or on the DL living a double life are less likely to be tested and are the ones who would never admit to having sex with men while donating blood.

[still_one]

2. Before blood is transfused, it is tested no mater where it came from /nt