When it Comes to Blood Donation---Yay for Anyone and that Includes Gays

What a can of worms this issue raises. On the one hand, the ban on homosexuals donating occurred during the time frame AIDS was most commonly found in the gay community. On the other hand, HIV sometimes takes a while to be detected in the body's system even now. The conundrum is HIV/AIDS affects both homosexuals and heterosexuals. The issue of whether or not homosexuals should be banned from donating is a complex one.

In regard to donation, many people are excluded. Because I am a three time cancer survivor and have Cowden Syndrome, my blood is not accepted. My being unable to donate does not hurt my feelings or make me feel discriminated against. I know that much is unknown in regard to viruses and cancers. I would certainly not want someone to develop cancer because he or she received my blood. However HIV/AIDS is a virus that is well known. Someone who donates blood and has this virus can spread it to other people but there are methods of determining if this virus exists. In my case, it is unknown what would happen to the recipient if I donated so I understand the ban for me.

In the case of any donation, the person needs to be certain he or she is not HIV positive or going to be positive in the near future. Banning homosexuals from donation and not their sexually loose heterosexual counterparts is, in a sense, saying they tend to be looser in their sexual behavior and theirs is worse because it is different from the norm. Also, this belief is often a stereotype as many homosexuals have loving, committed relationships.

Medically speaking if a homosexual can without question be tested and cleared of HIV after donating blood then I do not believe there should be a ban on homosexuals being able to donate. Because of the kindness of seven strangers I am alive today due to blood transfusions. Why deny any person the right to help those in need unless it is absolutely necessary? If it cannot be certain the person has HIV at the time of donation, there should be a ban. If it can be certain blood is completely HIV free, no ban should exist. Medical science seems to be able to scan for the AIDS virus readily now. It is no longer 1984. To allow our prejudices against homosexuality to deny them of the right to help is appalling.

If issues other than homosexuality exist such as IV drug use or other high risk behaviors then without question there should be a ban against such people donating. A person's sexual preference without any other risk factors is not enough to ban donation.

The world has come a long way from the time of Ryan White's receiving blood contaminated with the AIDS virus. We should be incredibly cautious but aware of scientific progress. I believe medical science is at a point where cases of HIV contaminated blood are caught so yes, I do believe this ban needs to be lifted as long as precautions are taken.