BLOOD DONOR DISCRIMINATION
Target:
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
Sponsored by:
To whom it may concern,
A study by Randall Sell, James Wells and David Wypij at Harvard School of Public Health, found that 6.2% to 20.8% of American men could be considered "incidentally homosexual." The higher percentages are based on admitted homosexual behavior or attraction since age 15. The lower percentages are admissions of actual same sex behavior in the past 5 years. Regardless of whether the number is 2% or 20%, my cause here is to end The American Red Cross' blatant and appalling discrimination against willing and able men simply because we have a natural homosexual gender orientation. It is estimated that 5 million recipients are transfused with blood components in the U.S. annually. Obviously, blood components can only be collected from healthy donors and have a very short shelf life. There are continuous shortages nationwide. In order to ensure that there is a consistent and adequate blood supply, why not encourage healthy homosexual men to donate blood regularly? Blood donation eligibility guidelines, according to the American Red Cross state, "You are at risk for getting infected with HIV/AIDS if you: are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977." There is something profoundly wrong with that statement. Forty thousand Americans become infected with HIV each year, and an estimated 1 million are already living with the disease. They are not all homosexual men. They are also heterosexual men, women and children. It is particularly alarming that 22 years into the AIDS epidemic, we are still faced with fundamental misunderstandings that HIV and AIDS are "gay" diseases. HIV and AIDS do not discriminate, neither should you. You claim that the blood supply is "safer than ever before" due to the sophisticated testing that each and every blood donation is subject to. All donated blood is screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV, West Nile Virus, Chaga's Disease and Syphilis, yet homosexual men are barred from donating blood. Why? With our willingness to donate, imagine the additional lives that could be saved each year if you would simply permit us to do so. Blood centers such as yours provide a great service to men, women and children in need of blood components. However, you are a providing a greater public disservice by contributing to hate, discrimination and intolerance of homosexual men. You have a moral obligation to right this terrible wrong.
Sincerely,
Mike Taylor
A study by Randall Sell, James Wells and David Wypij at Harvard School of Public Health, found that 6.2% to 20.8% of American men could be considered "incidentally homosexual." The higher percentages are based on admitted homosexual behavior or attraction since age 15. The lower percentages are admissions of actual same sex behavior in the past 5 years. Regardless of whether the number is 2% or 20%, my cause here is to end The American Red Cross' blatant and appalling discrimination against willing and able men simply because we have a natural homosexual gender orientation. It is estimated that 5 million recipients are transfused with blood components in the U.S. annually. Obviously, blood components can only be collected from healthy donors and have a very short shelf life. There are continuous shortages nationwide. In order to ensure that there is a consistent and adequate blood supply, why not encourage healthy homosexual men to donate blood regularly? Blood donation eligibility guidelines, according to the American Red Cross state, "You are at risk for getting infected with HIV/AIDS if you: are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977." There is something profoundly wrong with that statement. Forty thousand Americans become infected with HIV each year, and an estimated 1 million are already living with the disease. They are not all homosexual men. They are also heterosexual men, women and children. It is particularly alarming that 22 years into the AIDS epidemic, we are still faced with fundamental misunderstandings that HIV and AIDS are "gay" diseases. HIV and AIDS do not discriminate, neither should you. You claim that the blood supply is "safer than ever before" due to the sophisticated testing that each and every blood donation is subject to. All donated blood is screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV, West Nile Virus, Chaga's Disease and Syphilis, yet homosexual men are barred from donating blood. Why? With our willingness to donate, imagine the additional lives that could be saved each year if you would simply permit us to do so. Blood centers such as yours provide a great service to men, women and children in need of blood components. However, you are a providing a greater public disservice by contributing to hate, discrimination and intolerance of homosexual men. You have a moral obligation to right this terrible wrong.
Sincerely,
Mike Taylor
To whom it may concern,
A study by Randall Sell, James Wells and David Wypij at Harvard School of Public Health, found that 6.2% to 20.8% of American men could be considered "incidentally homosexual." The higher percentages are based on admitted homosexual behavior or attraction since age 15. The lower percentages are admissions of actual same sex behavior in the past 5 years. Regardless of whether the number is 2% or 20%, my cause here is to end The American Red Cross' blatant and appalling discrimination against willing and able men simply because we have a natural homosexual gender orientation. It is estimated that 5 million recipients are transfused with blood components in the U.S. annually. Obviously, blood components can only be collected from healthy donors and have a very short shelf life. There are continuous shortages nationwide. In order to ensure that there is a consistent and adequate blood supply, why not encourage healthy homosexual men to donate blood regularly? Blood donation eligibility guidelines, according to the American Red Cross state, "You are at risk for getting infected with HIV/AIDS if you: are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977." There is something profoundly wrong with that statement. Forty thousand Americans become infected with HIV each year, and an estimated 1 million are already living with the disease. They are not all homosexual men. They are also heterosexual men, women and children. It is particularly alarming that 22 years into the AIDS epidemic, we are still faced with fundamental misunderstandings that HIV and AIDS are "gay" diseases. HIV and AIDS do not discriminate, neither should you. You claim that the blood supply is "safer than ever before" due to the sophisticated testing that each and every blood donation is subject to. All donated blood is screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV, West Nile Virus, Chaga's Disease and Syphilis, yet homosexual men are barred from donating blood. Why? With our willingness to donate, imagine the additional lives that could be saved each year if you would simply permit us to do so. Blood centers such as yours provide a great service to men, women and children in need of blood components. However, you are a providing a greater public disservice by contributing to hate, discrimination and intolerance of homosexual men. You have a moral obligation to right this terrible wrong.
Sincerely,
Mike Taylor
A study by Randall Sell, James Wells and David Wypij at Harvard School of Public Health, found that 6.2% to 20.8% of American men could be considered "incidentally homosexual." The higher percentages are based on admitted homosexual behavior or attraction since age 15. The lower percentages are admissions of actual same sex behavior in the past 5 years. Regardless of whether the number is 2% or 20%, my cause here is to end The American Red Cross' blatant and appalling discrimination against willing and able men simply because we have a natural homosexual gender orientation. It is estimated that 5 million recipients are transfused with blood components in the U.S. annually. Obviously, blood components can only be collected from healthy donors and have a very short shelf life. There are continuous shortages nationwide. In order to ensure that there is a consistent and adequate blood supply, why not encourage healthy homosexual men to donate blood regularly? Blood donation eligibility guidelines, according to the American Red Cross state, "You are at risk for getting infected with HIV/AIDS if you: are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977." There is something profoundly wrong with that statement. Forty thousand Americans become infected with HIV each year, and an estimated 1 million are already living with the disease. They are not all homosexual men. They are also heterosexual men, women and children. It is particularly alarming that 22 years into the AIDS epidemic, we are still faced with fundamental misunderstandings that HIV and AIDS are "gay" diseases. HIV and AIDS do not discriminate, neither should you. You claim that the blood supply is "safer than ever before" due to the sophisticated testing that each and every blood donation is subject to. All donated blood is screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV, West Nile Virus, Chaga's Disease and Syphilis, yet homosexual men are barred from donating blood. Why? With our willingness to donate, imagine the additional lives that could be saved each year if you would simply permit us to do so. Blood centers such as yours provide a great service to men, women and children in need of blood components. However, you are a providing a greater public disservice by contributing to hate, discrimination and intolerance of homosexual men. You have a moral obligation to right this terrible wrong.
Sincerely,
Mike Taylor
To whom it may concern,
We, the undersigned are aware of a study by Randall Sell, James Wells and David Wypij at Harvard School of Public Health, that found that 6.2% to 20.8% of American men could be considered "incidentally homosexual." The higher percentages are based on admitted homosexual behavior or attraction since age 15. The lower percentages are admissions of actual same sex behavior in the past 5 years. Regardless of whether the number is 2% or 20%, our cause here is to end The American Red Cross' blatant and appalling discrimination against willing and able men simply because we have a natural homosexual gender orientation. It is estimated that 5 million recipients are transfused with blood components in the U.S. annually. Obviously, blood components can only be collected from healthy donors and have a very short shelf life. There are continuous shortages nationwide. In order to ensure that there is a consistent and adequate blood supply, why not encourage healthy homosexual men to donate blood regularly? Blood donation eligibility guidelines, according to the American Red Cross state, "You are at risk for getting infected with HIV/AIDS if you: are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977." There is something profoundly wrong with that statement. Forty thousand Americans become infected with HIV each year, and an estimated 1 million are already living with the disease. They are not all homosexual men. They are also heterosexual men, women and children. It is particularly alarming that 22 years into the AIDS epidemic, we are still faced with fundamental misunderstandings that HIV and AIDS are "gay" diseases. HIV and AIDS do not discriminate, neither should you. You claim that the blood supply is "safer than ever before" due to the sophisticated testing that each and every blood donation is subject to. All donated blood is screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV, West Nile Virus, Chaga's Disease and Syphilis, yet homosexual men are barred from donating blood. Why? With our willingness to donate, imagine the additional lives that could be saved each year if you would simply permit us to do so. Blood centers such as yours provide a great service to men, women and children in need of blood components. However, you are a providing a greater public disservice by contributing to hate, discrimination and intolerance of homosexual men. You have a moral obligation to right this terrible wrong. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
We, the undersigned are aware of a study by Randall Sell, James Wells and David Wypij at Harvard School of Public Health, that found that 6.2% to 20.8% of American men could be considered "incidentally homosexual." The higher percentages are based on admitted homosexual behavior or attraction since age 15. The lower percentages are admissions of actual same sex behavior in the past 5 years. Regardless of whether the number is 2% or 20%, our cause here is to end The American Red Cross' blatant and appalling discrimination against willing and able men simply because we have a natural homosexual gender orientation. It is estimated that 5 million recipients are transfused with blood components in the U.S. annually. Obviously, blood components can only be collected from healthy donors and have a very short shelf life. There are continuous shortages nationwide. In order to ensure that there is a consistent and adequate blood supply, why not encourage healthy homosexual men to donate blood regularly? Blood donation eligibility guidelines, according to the American Red Cross state, "You are at risk for getting infected with HIV/AIDS if you: are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977." There is something profoundly wrong with that statement. Forty thousand Americans become infected with HIV each year, and an estimated 1 million are already living with the disease. They are not all homosexual men. They are also heterosexual men, women and children. It is particularly alarming that 22 years into the AIDS epidemic, we are still faced with fundamental misunderstandings that HIV and AIDS are "gay" diseases. HIV and AIDS do not discriminate, neither should you. You claim that the blood supply is "safer than ever before" due to the sophisticated testing that each and every blood donation is subject to. All donated blood is screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV, West Nile Virus, Chaga's Disease and Syphilis, yet homosexual men are barred from donating blood. Why? With our willingness to donate, imagine the additional lives that could be saved each year if you would simply permit us to do so. Blood centers such as yours provide a great service to men, women and children in need of blood components. However, you are a providing a greater public disservice by contributing to hate, discrimination and intolerance of homosexual men. You have a moral obligation to right this terrible wrong. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
We signed the "BLOOD DONOR DISCRIMINATION" petition!
# 40:
7:32 am PST, Dec 19,
Anthony Camel, Washington D.C.
# 38:
8:55 am PST, Nov 18,
Name not displayed, Rhode Island
# 37:
3:47 pm PST, Nov 10,
Chad Bowles, Michigan
# 36:
7:18 am PDT, Sep 29,
Michaela Swallow, United Kingdom
hi, i,m adding my name in outrage as a lesbian woman who has refused to donate blood since hearing of the ban on gay men donating many years ago,as far as i,m aware we as lesbians don,t receive the same level of discrimination.
hi, i,m adding my name in outrage as a lesbian woman who has refused to donate blood since hearing of the ban on gay men donating many years ago,as far as i,m aware we as lesbians don,t receive the same level of discrimination.
# 35:
3:55 pm PDT, Sep 21,
Caleb Laiesk, Arizona
# 34:
6:26 pm PDT, Aug 13,
Maria Romano, New York
# 33:
1:37 pm PDT, Aug 9,
Greta Malkotzoglou, Greece
# 32:
1:53 pm PDT, Jul 24,
Amy Pierce, Florida
If somebodies life can possibly be saved by a homosexual man or woman then isn't that what's important? Not whom they sleep with?
If somebodies life can possibly be saved by a homosexual man or woman then isn't that what's important? Not whom they sleep with?
# 31:
6:52 pm PDT, Jun 30,
Jessica Sawyer, Louisiana
# 30:
11:55 am PDT, Jun 21,
Tracy Slager, Indiana
In this day and age more homosexuals are being 'safe'.. many more of them that heterosexuals who are 'safe'. I think if you're going to be screening all the blood anyway then why exclude a sizable population from even being considered. In this day an age when even *I*, who used to donate all the time, can't give blood because of medications.
In this day and age more homosexuals are being 'safe'.. many more of them that heterosexuals who are 'safe'. I think if you're going to be screening all the blood anyway then why exclude a sizable population from even being considered. In this day an age when even *I*, who used to donate all the time, can't give blood because of medications.
# 29:
11:34 pm PDT, Jun 18,
Kersten Mahler, New York
When looking for donors sexual orientation shouldn't matter.
When looking for donors sexual orientation shouldn't matter.
# 28:
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9:10 pm PDT, Jun 10,
Sophie Szeferowicz, France
I strongly support this petition. |
# 27:
7:48 am PDT, Jun 10,
Lucas Keeran, Ohio
# 26:
10:42 am PDT, Jun 2,
M's Mother, Connecticut
It is not only my son's blood you forfeit. You will also not get a drop of mine nor that of any family members or friends who also love my wonderful child -- a brilliant, successful, and upstanding young man. Do the math. Oh, and all members of the immediately family are Type O... Regretfully, M's Mother
It is not only my son's blood you forfeit. You will also not get a drop of mine nor that of any family members or friends who also love my wonderful child -- a brilliant, successful, and upstanding young man. Do the math. Oh, and all members of the immediately family are Type O... Regretfully, M's Mother
# 25:
7:47 pm PDT, May 30,
Aleasha Casaretto, Texas
Save more lives by ending discrimination.
Save more lives by ending discrimination.
# 24:
7:21 am PDT, May 30,
Cristina Martinez, Texas
# 23:
6:53 am PDT, May 30,
Michele Brown Kriske, California
I believe that everyone should have the right to donate blood, no matter what their beliefs or lifestyles. The screening process that blood goes through ensures that it is safe and to discriminate against someone based on their choices is not fair.
I believe that everyone should have the right to donate blood, no matter what their beliefs or lifestyles. The screening process that blood goes through ensures that it is safe and to discriminate against someone based on their choices is not fair.
# 22:
5:44 pm PDT, May 28,
Monique Baez, New York
# 21:
12:26 am PDT, May 27,
Magda Adasiewicz, Poland
# 20:
9:28 pm PDT, May 26,
Adrian Tremayne, New York
Since blood can be screened for HIV and other STDs, there is no reason to exclude anyone from donating blood unless their blood has failed one of these tests in the past.
Since blood can be screened for HIV and other STDs, there is no reason to exclude anyone from donating blood unless their blood has failed one of these tests in the past.
# 19:
12:58 am PDT, May 26,
Can Atik, Turkey
# 18:
6:05 pm PDT, May 24,
Laurel Burns, Maine
# 17:
5:24 am PDT, May 24,
Dora Kassis, Greece
# 16:
3:49 pm PDT, May 23,
Kristy Mitchell, Texas
# 15:
4:27 am PDT, May 23,
David Dunkleberger, Pennsylvania
# 14:
12:26 am PDT, May 23,
Panagiotis Rigopoulos, Greece
# 13:
4:06 pm PDT, May 22,
Diane simek Tom ashton, Rhode Island
# 12:
3:41 pm PDT, May 22,
Louise Lanham, Texas
I can understand a built in fear of the possible "unknown", but that would be there for any individuals blood. If it would help supply blood where it is needed, perhaps it's time to drop the bias.
I can understand a built in fear of the possible "unknown", but that would be there for any individuals blood. If it would help supply blood where it is needed, perhaps it's time to drop the bias.
# 11:
7:55 am PDT, May 22,
Jacolin Schultz, Wisconsin
# 10:
3:14 pm PDT, May 21,
Cara Gubrud, Minnesota
# 9:
1:29 pm PDT, May 21,
Audrey Turcotte, Canada
I definately agree with Mr.Taylor and think you are wrong to stop homosexual men from giving blood. Homosexuals are people like you and me, why can't you look beyond the fact that they are who they are. They respect you so why not start respecting them. Aids/HIV do not equal GAY. People get aids or hiv every day and they aren'T necessarily gay. wake up guys. You say it yourself, the security tests for blood donors are so darn good now , then why don't you give homosexuals a try. Let them take the test and if they do have aids then fine they won't donate, but don't put them all in the same darn basket. By doing this you are stopping innocent people from saving lives,so why not do something about it?
I definately agree with Mr.Taylor and think you are wrong to stop homosexual men from giving blood. Homosexuals are people like you and me, why can't you look beyond the fact that they are who they are. They respect you so why not start respecting them. Aids/HIV do not equal GAY. People get aids or hiv every day and they aren'T necessarily gay. wake up guys. You say it yourself, the security tests for blood donors are so darn good now , then why don't you give homosexuals a try. Let them take the test and if they do have aids then fine they won't donate, but don't put them all in the same darn basket. By doing this you are stopping innocent people from saving lives,so why not do something about it?
# 8:
8:57 am PDT, May 21,
Kelly Garbato, Missouri
# 7:
6:34 am PDT, May 21,
John Jay Alves, Rhode Island
The qurarantining of a specific group for a disease that affects everyone is non-sensicial and based solely on 20 year old information. Furthermore, the last 20 years have seen huge gains in the legal recognition of same sex partnerships and subject to civil protections. In the face of increased protections, the American Red Cross ban on gay men donating blood will become a legal flashpoint if not rectified
The qurarantining of a specific group for a disease that affects everyone is non-sensicial and based solely on 20 year old information. Furthermore, the last 20 years have seen huge gains in the legal recognition of same sex partnerships and subject to civil protections. In the face of increased protections, the American Red Cross ban on gay men donating blood will become a legal flashpoint if not rectified
# 6:
6:32 am PDT, May 21,
Kerri Dolby, Rhode Island
To whom it may concern, I am signing this position to end the discrimination against homosexuals who volunteer to donate blood. I think that decades ago, our knowledge of HIV and AIDS was limited, and it was thought that AIDS was a disease that was spread primarily through unprotected sexual intercourse of homosexual males. However, since then, technology has advanced dramatically, we know MUCH more about HIV and that it is a blood borne pathogen spread by blood and body fluids, through ALL types of sexual relations. Generations back, the reason for excluding homosexual males from blood donation was because the thought that there was a higher likelyhood of an exposure to HIV has (in most recent times) been proven wrong, and infact, heterosexuals have a higher incidence of HIV! The blood screening questionare should be worded, "HAVE YOU EVER HAD UNPROTECTED SEXUAL CONTACT WITH ANY PERSON IN THE PAST 10 YEARS?" which would include the possibility of all sexually transmitted HIV, and not soley single out any specific group of people. All blood is screened for the HIV virus, and it is absolutely discriminating to exclude healthy males of homosexual orientation who are willing to donate blood, as the risk factors for HIV are just as prevelant among other groups of people. Thank you. Sincerely, Kerri Dolby
To whom it may concern, I am signing this position to end the discrimination against homosexuals who volunteer to donate blood. I think that decades ago, our knowledge of HIV and AIDS was limited, and it was thought that AIDS was a disease that was spread primarily through unprotected sexual intercourse of homosexual males. However, since then, technology has advanced dramatically, we know MUCH more about HIV and that it is a blood borne pathogen spread by blood and body fluids, through ALL types of sexual relations. Generations back, the reason for excluding homosexual males from blood donation was because the thought that there was a higher likelyhood of an exposure to HIV has (in most recent times) been proven wrong, and infact, heterosexuals have a higher incidence of HIV! The blood screening questionare should be worded, "HAVE YOU EVER HAD UNPROTECTED SEXUAL CONTACT WITH ANY PERSON IN THE PAST 10 YEARS?" which would include the possibility of all sexually transmitted HIV, and not soley single out any specific group of people. All blood is screened for the HIV virus, and it is absolutely discriminating to exclude healthy males of homosexual orientation who are willing to donate blood, as the risk factors for HIV are just as prevelant among other groups of people. Thank you. Sincerely, Kerri Dolby
# 5:
6:15 am PDT, May 21,
Name not displayed, Germany
# 4:
2:16 am PDT, May 21,
Thomas Pirovano, Switzerland
# 3:
10:21 pm PDT, May 20,
Pam Boland, Georgia
# 2:
8:48 pm PDT, May 20,
Name not displayed, New York
# 1:
1:48 pm PDT, May 20,
Mike Taylor, Rhode Island
Save more lives by ending discrimination.
Save more lives by ending discrimination.
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