Marni Soupcoff: Gay men can safely donate blood. Why don't we let them?

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Canada and the U.S. should get on with enacting further changes that would more sensibly reflect the current state of blood testing and scientific knowledge about HIV risk factors

The explanation may seem logical on its face: gay and bisexual men are deemed to be at high risk of having human immunodeficiency virus , a sexually transmissible blood-borne pathogen that can easily taint the blood supply. Regulators are painfully aware of this possibility because the Red Cross’s lack of screening of donors and blood in the early 1980s had devastating consequences. About 2,000 Canadians contracted HIV from blood products, and many more ended up with hepatitis C.

Cohen said he felt hurt when he learned that he could not donate his plasma for COVID-19 therapies. Many sexually active gay and bisexual men have expressed similar sentiments about being shut out of the life-giving act of blood and plasma donation, both pre-pandemic and during the COVID-19 crisis. But this is not a question of feelings. It is one of health and safety, and it must be assessed dispassionately by examining the facts.

Those facts suggest that the status quo of refusing all male donors who have been sexually active with another man in the past three months is not the most effective way to achieve a safe and adequate blood supply. Such donors could be accepted if they are taking PrEP, or if they have not had unprotected sex in the previous two weeks.Article content continued

Now, both countries should get on with enacting further changes that would more sensibly reflect the current state of blood testing and scientific knowledge about HIV risk factors. This would be best practice at any time. But during a pandemic in which plasma therapy seems to play a meaningful role in treating patients who have contracted the virus and blood donations have dipped, it is especially important to shed restrictions that are not necessary for health and safety.

 

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How safe is safe?

Why? Because In 2018, bisexual and gay men made up 69% of newly reported cases of AIDS. 69% of new cases in a group of people that make up less than 3% of the population. That’s why!

The phrase, ' if it only saves one person', comes to mind. By treating gay men as you would, persons who were in britain during mad cow disease, that is , banned donation, you remove all risk. Now if they want to build their own donation pool, have at 'er.

Sure let them donate gallons and gallons, but the gay blood supply should be labeled as such. I get to know what goes in my body. MyBodyMyChoice

Probably because it's a leftist politically correct statement not based in facts but to appease yet another extremely vocal minority, more over it's an unnecessary risk to the populace.

Because when HIV first came out this 'GAY-GOT AIDS YET' was ingrained into the public's Psychy,that's why..!!

Wow I had no idea they weren't allowed to donate blood. Wack.

Tell that to Andy Cohen. He was bitching he Was not able to donate.

Soooo the reason why they were banned from blood donations suddenly disappeared. They are no longer sodomites?

Because a gay male's blood can turn a straight fella gay if he's almost already gay Short answer, gay germs

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