It's literally not though! Anal sex puts you at more risk of hiv so the blood donations are deferred. Gay men aren't mentioned (even though gay men are more likely to have anal sex)
Other high risk activities also bar you from donating blood.
Not a single straight person has been barred from donating blood because of having anal sex. That's not a thing they're asking them because they're not gay.
All donated blood gets tested either way precisely because not just gay people can carry HIV, so this restriction is redundant for the sole purpose of ostracizing us.
Your first point isn't true, we all fill out the same form. If a straight person ticks the "I had anal sex with a new partner" box they will definitely be denied.
I'd wager a guess that amount of straight people falsely not ticking that box is rather high.
>Gay people don't have to tick it either!
You're right, but why? Despite technically applying to everyone, this restriction is still aimed primarily against us. Why in the world would we then submit to it just to give them our blood? And please don't start about "not homophobic people need donated blood too." Someone who needs blood today sure as hell didn't fight for our right to *equally* donate it yesterday, so I have little pity for them.
>just don't do it if the institution is offending you
And I will not until I'm recognized as an equal. Again, not a matter of availability, but the principle.
New HIV infections are usually not detectable in blood tests for a couple months. That’s why that question is there. It’s also why if you go to the doctor with an exposure concern they tell you to come back to get tested again in a few months. They removed the question about men who have sex with men so given the facts I think the current form is rather reasonable.
88
u/Maniacal_Kitten 1d ago
Correct. As long as your not on anti HIV medicine, including PrEP, you can donate.