13th of June 2009
WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY
Sunday the 14th of June, 2009 is World Blood Donor Day and it is designed to help restore the depleting the world’s blood supply. I would normally chant for the cause pushing for every soul to do their part and donate blood, but here in the United States, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) with all of its stogy, decrepit board members, who refuse to release antiquated phobias and biased causing the blood supply to be depleted.
Every drop of blood received by any agency must go through three tests that will identify 99.995 percent of any HIV antibodies that may be inside the donated supply. The test will also identify if the blood has any STD’s or any other contaminate posing risks to any receiving body. This is a great focus, but the FDA Board of Directors is still homophobic in their refusal to acknowledge the statistics that tell infections of HIV/AIDS outside of the United States is a heterosexually lead disease. The leading transmitters of HIV/AIDS infections outside of the United States are primarily within the heterosexual populace. Outside of the United States, homosexuals are not the leading population infected with this horrible disease and therefore all blood donor sites should conform to questions that isolate risk behaviors and not stereotypes such as homosexual men.
The largest collecting organization within the United States disagrees with the FDA and has requested rigorously for a change in its bigoted seclusion polices. Unfortunately, the old boys club that manages the FDA Board refuses to listen to reason or any arguments that proves their denial is based on hatred as apposed to factual statistics. The average gay man tells me to lie when I want to donate blood, but I refuse to lie or to adapt to a corrupt, racist system that needed to change fifteen years ago.
I would love for every person within the United States that is planning to donate blood, regardless of sexuality, to complete the form and then refuse their normal donation of blood until the FDA reverses its years of active bigotry and homophobia. Until the FDA faces its hatred and changes policies, the blood levels should continue to drop to dangerously low levels finally forcing the FDA to reverse its reign of terror, bigotry and hate!
I am not advocating that we do nothing to protect our blood supply. On the contrary, we must do everything possible to ensure our blood supply remains safe. I am advocating that HATE should not be propagated by political policy when that course of action is dependant on the generosity of the citizens of this country. Everything should always be done to ensure our blood supply is safe, but the questions should be used to diminish those who are at risk for STD’s, HIV/AIDS based on behaviors and not stereotypes. Not one soul should donate one drop of blood sending a loud message to the FDA that when it changes is policies of hate, we will gladly fill the necessary supply.
Your humble servant – Todd M Dobson
June 23, 2009 at 12:36 am |
Great post Todd! It is so weird that in 2009, people are still so close-minded. No matter the sexuality, people should be able to donate blood–if we are all to focus on the good that giving blood can do (with saving lives, etc.)–why would you deny someone to do so because of their private life? Great post Todd–it is just terrible that once you think America has moved forward, you read something like this and it lets you know that not much has changed after all.