- Signatures: 2,594
- Goal: 1,000
- Deadline: 9-15-2007
See Full Petition
Email this Petition
Are you aware that since 1983, any man who admits to EVER having had sex with another man is placed on a lifetime deferral list and is ineligible to donate blood? This is due to the ignorance and fear surrounding AIDS in the 80's.
Are you also aware that Black and Latina women currently have a higher HIV infection rate than gay men? Furthermore, ALL blood that is donated is tested for HIV and many other diseases. There is simply no need for this discriminatory ban to continue in this day and age.
The FDA must be persuaded to lift this ban, as their counterparts have done in Spain, Italy, Australia, Switzerland, and even Russia! Please sign the petition and send it to anyone who may be interested in supporting equality and ending discrimination. Thank you.
To read the article that started all this, go to www.azstarnet.com/opinion/138927 (Cut and paste, as the link does not work) and visit www.LetUsGive.com for more info. Contact me via the link below.
If you are able to donate, please do so. We do need blood. If you are not, please encourage someone else to donate on your behalf.
Thank you, and PLEASE! Pass it on! That's the only way we're going to make a change.
Are you also aware that Black and Latina women currently have a higher HIV infection rate than gay men? Furthermore, ALL blood that is donated is tested for HIV and many other diseases. There is simply no need for this discriminatory ban to continue in this day and age.
The FDA must be persuaded to lift this ban, as their counterparts have done in Spain, Italy, Australia, Switzerland, and even Russia! Please sign the petition and send it to anyone who may be interested in supporting equality and ending discrimination. Thank you.
To read the article that started all this, go to www.azstarnet.com/opinion/138927 (Cut and paste, as the link does not work) and visit www.LetUsGive.com for more info. Contact me via the link below.
If you are able to donate, please do so. We do need blood. If you are not, please encourage someone else to donate on your behalf.
Thank you, and PLEASE! Pass it on! That's the only way we're going to make a change.
| Number | Date | Name | State | Zip/Postal Code | Country | Send your message to the FDA here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,616 | 6:11 pm PST, Nov 21 | Anonymous | Oregon | 97305 | United States | Save lives! |
| 2,615 | 11:49 am PST, Nov 21 | marissa m | Washington | 98387 | United States | We all deserve to help |
| 2,614 | 7:13 am PST, Nov 20 | Marcella Kocolatos | New York | 11428 | United States | I can't believe we're still dealing with things like this, when there are so many people who need blood everyday. This policy is costing people lives, not to mention being ridiculously discriminatory and insulting. There are more straight women than gay men with AIDS. Why aren't they banned from donating blood? |
| 2,613 | 1:06 pm PST, Nov 18 | Kent Parks | North Carolina | 27615 | United States | Still have a couple of gallon pins from before this ludicrous ban was enacted in the 1980s. Then, people didn't know any better, but now? At least change it to "have had sex with a man in the past 6 months" like any other "risk factors". The policy doesn't even define exactly what particular activity constitutes "having sex"! |
| 2,612 | 7:32 pm PST, Nov 17 | Danyelle Glover | Georgia | 30311 | United States | I am not a gay man but I am outraged at the fact that there always seems to be a shortage of blood but you turn away many that want to give. With all the testing and stuff there is now-a-days there is no reason why a gay man should not be able to give blood. Its called DISCRIMINATION!!!!! |
| 2,611 | 6:40 pm PST, Nov 17 | Aylesse Sordillo | Massachusetts | 02149 | United States | This ban is ridiculous! There is no need to ban gay men from donating blood that is being checked for HIV anyway. Everyone that is willing to give blood and is healthy enough to do so should be able to donate. |
| 2,610 | 5:10 pm PST, Nov 17 | Eliana Wachs Cashman | Massachusetts | 02115 | United States | Please increase the blood supply for those who need it. |
| 2,609 | 5:04 pm PST, Nov 17 | Taylor S. | Massachusetts | 01970 | United States | Based on the facts, this is ludicrous. |
| 2,608 | 10:32 am PST, Nov 17 | Thomas Basgil Jr. | New Jersey | 08077 | United States | If a heterosexual man can have risky sex and then donate a year afterward, I should be able to have safe sex and do just the same. That's still over-protecting the blood supply, but it's a compromise. Additionally, how about you give the people that are dying from a loss of blood the opportunity to choose a one in million chance of getting HIV or an almost certain chance of dying on the spot? |
| 2,607 | 10:44 pm PST, Nov 16 | Anonymous | Massachusetts | 02115 | United States | Let us give blood, we are humans too! It is pure hatred and homophobia for not letting gay or bi men donate blood. Everyone can contract HIV/Aids anyway. If there was a dyer emergency of a people loosing their lives and blood supplies were dangerously low, would you still ban gay and bi men from donating to save lives? It is absolutly unconstitutional and inmoral to not let a group of people donate blood, because of a scare that's shrouded in pregudism and homophobia. Let us donate blood to save others now! |
| 2,606 | 5:39 pm PST, Nov 16 | Anonymous | Georgia | 30316 | United States | Give people a voice!!!! |
| 2,605 | 3:17 pm PST, Nov 16 | Haley Mitchell | LD2 3UL | United Kingdom | The majority of my friends are gay, and i am actually studying to become a nurse. i think its disgraceful and very discriminating of the NHS to be screaming out for blood donations, and in the same breath turning them away. If you have a legitimate reason for not accepting blood from gay men, i would be more than willing to hear your side of the argument. | |
| 2,604 | 2:30 pm PST, Nov 16 | Anonymous | Hawaii | 96822 | United States | Being a homosexual does not mean you have AIDS. A lot of heterosexuals have AIDS, so should they all be banned from donating too? |
| 2,603 | 10:53 am PST, Nov 16 | Mark Pritt | Ohio | 43026 | United States | It's kind of ridiculous to ask if a male has ever had sex with another male, but not ask men if they are sexually promiscuous. While I don't have sex with other males, it would be easier to meet blood demands if gay men were allowed to donate blood. I have donated blood 11 times and after seeing the questions that many times I'm just sick of it. It's an outdated question. |
| 2,602 | 12:35 am PST, Nov 16 | Kyle Gadley | California | 92648 | United States | AIDS affects both men and women, and my blood is no different from yours, as any scientist will tell you. Statistically, my lifestyle may invite a higher incidence of AIDS, but I am not my lifestyle. |
| 2,601 | 3:49 pm PST, Nov 15 | Anonymous | New York | 11421 | United States | This kind of moralizing kills, and can't be hidden around "science." Once again, you are singlehandedly risking public safety. |
| 2,600 | 2:22 pm PST, Nov 13 | Emilie Pitts | Florida | 33469 | United States | I think this type of discrimination is terrible and goes against the very purpose of promoting equality. Can you imagine if Black and Latina women were banned from giving blood since their HIV rate is higher? No one would accept that, black, white, male, female, gay, or straight. I think this issue needs to be resolved immediately. |
| 2,599 | 11:23 am PST, Nov 13 | Ian Frazier | New Jersey | 08098 | United States | Please let me give blood. |
| 2,598 | 9:42 pm PST, Nov 10 | Katherine Trejo | Connecticut | 06340 | United States | I believe that they should be allowed to donate blood. Not every man who has sexual contact with another man had aids or will get aids. There are bi man who have sex with a guy then go with a girl. They should be accounted as equal to striaght or lesbians. |
| 2,597 | 4:45 pm PST, Nov 10 | Mark Hitz | Michigan | 48638 | United States | This is moraly wrong, disrcriminatory and indecent. HIV/AIDS was not started in the gay community. LIFT this ban in the name of EQUALITY. |
| 2,596 | 11:17 am PST, Nov 7 | Olivia Katherine | Washington | 98033 | United States | These policies represent blatant discrimination against gay citizens. Anyone can get HIV; it is not a purely "gay" problem. This represents just one of the ways that homosexuals in this country have been demoted to second-class citizenship and it is WRONG. By giving gays the right to donate blood, it will not only give them the rights that they deserve, but will significantly increase the amount of blood that can be used to help people, thus saving many lives. |
| 2,595 | 8:23 am PST, Nov 7 | Bridget Q | Kentucky | 40292 | United States | This is an ignorant, prejudiced action, and this ban should be abolished. Anyone can get AIDS, not just the gay community, and people or organizations that believe things to be otherwise are being discriminatory and biased. Anyone should be able to donate blood, because this is not the 1970's, and blood passes strict screening tests before it is given to another person. What if a gay man had proof, a negative HIV-test? Would it make any difference? Anyone who wants to should be allowed to help save lives, regardless of sexual preference. |
| 2,594 | 6:57 am PST, Nov 7 | Aaron Fancey | Ohio | 43045 | United States | These policies are unfair, unnecessary and blatantly discriminatory. With there being a constant need for more donors, to continue such practices is foolish and homophobic. |
| 2,593 | 5:06 am PST, Nov 5 | Adam E | BR29PF | United Kingdom | I may not be gay but... I'm outraged that my best friend was denied the chance to donate with me yesterday. You people keep on saying your desperately need blood- all these guys are trying to do is help!! So it's wrong for me to be racist, but you can discriminate against the gay men of the UK?? I'm questioning wether to donate in the future, nut until this stuipd rule is lifted.. You have no grounds for this... THIS IS RACISM | |
| 2,592 | 7:18 pm PST, Nov 4 | Anonymous | Virginia | 23231 | United States | I would like to say that you are being discriminative towards gay men about this because a lot of them have proof that they don't have an STD and you still won't let them give blood...thats just harsh |
| 2,591 | 4:28 pm PST, Nov 4 | Jonathan Green | Texas | 76692 | United States | I think that it is not fare to say that based on someones sexual preference they can not help save a life by giving blood. I ask of you to reconsider this stipulation. Helping save lives is what giving blood is for. Not to judge someone based on who they have sex with. |
| 2,590 | 1:03 pm PST, Nov 4 | Henry Kent | BR1 5DN | United Kingdom | I have been tested already and am negative of all sti's i went to donate blood today and was rejected you do something nice and get shat on thanks. | |
| 2,589 | 2:39 pm PST, Nov 3 | Anonymous | California | 95014 | United States | Equality for all! that's what USA is about! |
| 2,588 | 4:55 pm PDT, Nov 1 | Jamie Vermillion | Illinois | 61821 | United States | This policy must be changed in order to save lives. The ignorance and discrimination displayed by the Red Cross is ridiculous. |
| 2,587 | 11:11 am PDT, Nov 1 | Anonymous | Indiana | 47803 | United States | The argument of the petition says it all. This act is outdated; blood is tested now! There is no reason why any gay man who has had sex with another man should be prevented from giving blood for that reason alone. |
| 2,586 | 10:37 am PDT, Nov 1 | David Papas | New York | 10027 | United States | It is time for this antiquated practice to finally be put to rest. We have a blood crisis and it's absurd and impractical to keep turning away viable donors because of outdated ignorance. |
| 2,585 | 9:00 pm PDT, Oct 31 | Tiernan McClanahan | Kentucky | 40299 | United States | Ridiculous, blood is blood. The fact that a homosexual man could not donate their blood to save my life in the potential future sickens me. |
| 2,584 | 12:58 pm PDT, Oct 31 | Anonymous | California | 94114 | United States | Stop discriminating against tax paying citizens. |
| 2,583 | 1:00 am PDT, Oct 31 | Bryan Kerns | Illinois | 61801 | United States | There is no point in decreasing our supply of blood by not letting homosexuals give blood. |
| 2,582 | 10:57 pm PDT, Oct 30 | Anonymous | Iowa | 50010 | United States | This regulation is a joke. You want more blood? You want to save more lives? Appeal this. |
| 2,581 | 8:44 pm PDT, Oct 30 | Heidi Coons | Illinois | 62901 | United States | This is stupid and ignorant. Please review this policy, especially since all blood is tested for HIV status. |
| 2,580 | 6:48 pm PDT, Oct 30 | Zoe Batson | Wisconsin | 53705 | United States | What's the point? |
| 2,579 | 5:35 pm PDT, Oct 30 | Meredith Strueber | Illinois | 61455 | United States | Why are we still so ignorant in this day and age? Why is discrimination still okay? The blood is tested for not only HIV but a range of other things. I am a straight woman, but because of this ban I refuse to donate blood, even though I know it could save a life. Does this make me a bad person? Either way, this ban keeps others from donating blood that could save a life. |
| 2,578 | 12:55 pm PDT, Oct 30 | Alaynah Greene | Kentucky | 40205 | United States | Let 'em donate, you prejudiced, uninformed nincompoops. |
| 2,577 | 11:31 am PDT, Oct 30 | Katie Clark | Illinois | 62902 | United States | Time to update the system Sam... |
| 2,576 | 11:30 am PDT, Oct 30 | Steven Shofner | Kentucky | 40217 | United States | I've been regularly giving blood ever since I was old enough to do so, and each time I sit down and actually read through the material. And each time I wonder, "why do we preclude homosexuals from giving life?" We understand AIDS well enough now to know that there is no significantly greater risk among homosexuals than among any other population, yet this clearly prejudicial rule still exists and I don't understand why, especially when I'm being told every few weeks that blood supplies are at critical levels. I wouldn't want to be discriminated against for having sex with the woman I love, I don't see why other men are discriminated against for having sex with the men they love...and in this case, the real victims are the people who need the blood donations. |
| 2,575 | 11:21 am PDT, Oct 30 | Anonymous | Indiana | 47129 | United States | AIDS and homosexuality is not synonymous. Why is this a law? |
| 2,574 | 9:15 am PDT, Oct 30 | Ted Smith | Missouri | 63017 | United States | Gay men want to give blood just as much as anyone else, and since it's all tested and there is no higher prevalence of diseases in gay men than anyone else, it shouldn't be a problem. |
| 2,573 | 9:37 pm PDT, Oct 29 | Anonymous | Illinois | 60045 | United States | Although the HIV/AIDS crisis is far from over, it is no longer isolated within the gay community. In the United States there are demographics that are currently far more at risk for contracting and spreading HIV/AIDS, but if we say that those demographics can't donate blood, it's considered racism. So why is that same action acceptable when directed at gay men? |
| 2,572 | 9:01 pm PDT, Oct 29 | Jerry Braun | Kansas | 67601 | United States | It seems unfair that any man who has had sexual contact with another man (though protected) and has received a clean test for HIV is still banned from donating blood when another man could have regular unprotected sex with a woman with no questions asked. This policy must change. It is discriminatory and unacceptable. |
| 2,571 | 8:33 pm PDT, Oct 29 | Lisa Artz | Illinois | 62901 | United States | As aids tests become cheaper, and women contract it as well, there's better ways to test for this. A gay man who uses protection is safer than a woman who doesn't. Asking about unprotected/nonmonogamous sex would be better. |
| 2,570 | 8:00 pm PDT, Oct 29 | Anonymous | Illinois | 60435 | United States | Let's use science instead of fear: there is no reason to reject this particular group of donors over other groups. |
| 2,569 | 6:41 pm PDT, Oct 29 | Anonymous | Pennsylvania | 19104 | United States | Everyone should be allowed to give blood because it is tested anyway. |
| 2,568 | 4:41 pm PDT, Oct 29 | Alexis Moore | Illinois | 62701 | United States | How in the world are we not past this kind of ignorance yet? |
| 2,567 | 2:00 pm PDT, Oct 29 | Sara Wells | Kentucky | 42366 | United States | - |
| 2,566 | 12:30 pm PDT, Oct 29 | Anonymous | Pennsylvania | 19104 | United States | With the blood shortage in America today, there should be no reason to reject those who wish to give. |
| 2,565 | 12:30 pm PDT, Oct 29 | Veronica Foster | Illinois | 60015 | United States | Why ban gay men from donating blood when we need blood so badly? It doesn't make sense! |
| 2,564 | 11:06 am PDT, Oct 29 | Eric Jones | Kentucky | 40292 | United States | Unacceptable. You know what really kills me about this ban? I know that there is a possibility that one of my loved ones could be in serious need of blood. Sure, we have plenty of donation in storage, but imagine knowing that you could not do anything at all to help that loved one. You would become a beggar in the medical world; you would be forced to rely on the kindness of strangers to give your mother, your father, your sister, your brother, or even a friend a second chance. Imagine a madman threatening to kill your best friend while you are locked inside a glass box, unable to help in any way. That's what it feels like. That's what all gay men go through. This is a totally monstrous restriction coming from such a well-wishing organization as the FDA. |
| 2,563 | 10:04 am PDT, Oct 29 | Jennifer Nierenhausen | Illinois | 61866 | United States | The reason for this ban is no longer relevant if we are now testing all blood for HIV. There is such a need for blood donors that we need to take another look at this ban and do something to change it. |
| 2,562 | 9:11 am PDT, Oct 29 | James Wood | Kentucky | 40203 | United States | It is absolutely ludicrous that I am not able to give blood because i am a gay man. Why stop people who care enough to give blood from doing so? Are you afraid that we are going to spread a gay disease? Well we aren't so you don't have to worry about it. |
| 2,561 | 6:24 am PDT, Oct 29 | Jennifer Norman | Illinois | 62864 | United States | How can a country that considers itself to be so evolved display such utter discrimination? No healthy person should ever be turned away when they are willing to donate! |
| 2,560 | 11:19 pm PDT, Oct 28 | Joseph Wimsatt Jr. | Illinois | 62901 | United States | There always seems to be a shortage of blood and it seems to me that if this ban were lifted we might be able to change all of that. |
| 2,559 | 10:21 pm PDT, Oct 28 | Wendy Stearns | Illinois | 62901 | United States | The purpose of establishing this ban is no longer relevant. The FDa should reevaluate their position. The Red Cross is always talking about the shortage of blood. This would be a great way to expand their resources and ultimately save lives. |
| 2,558 | 9:59 pm PDT, Oct 28 | Darren Ackerman | Illinois | 62901 | United States | Please take the time to revisit the issue of banning homosexual male's ability to donate blood. |
| 2,557 | 9:17 pm PDT, Oct 28 | brandon bennett | Illinois | 62812 | United States | change your ignorant laws! |
| 2,556 | 10:05 am PDT, Oct 28 | Anonymous | Virginia | 23231 | United States | i think that its a just as bad as descriminating against someone becuase of the color of there skin...its horrible and if they are going to run tests on the blood then they should allow anyone to do it. and then test the blood if they think its tainted. |
| 2,555 | 10:01 am PDT, Oct 28 | Amy Hobday | Virginia | 23231 | United States | I think that it is messed up that gay men cannot give blood just becuase they have had sexual contact with other men. |
| 2,554 | 9:49 am PDT, Oct 28 | Miles Kushnereit | Virginia | 23231 | United States | for males it is also sexist that females in some states are allowed to donate if they have had sex with females and males but when a male does he is denied. THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL on all levels of humanity |
| 2,553 | 5:36 pm PDT, Oct 25 | Julie Baker | Rhode Island | 02909 | United States | It is high time that blood donation centers stop discriminating against gay men. HIV is no longer a disease of gay men. Considering the desperate needs for blood and considering that heterosexual women are now the most commonly diagnosed with HIV, it is time to lift the ban. |
| 2,552 | 7:37 pm PDT, Oct 22 | Anonymous | South Carolina | 29632 | United States | If you need blood so badly, try testing for HIV instead of banning all gay men from donating. |
| 2,551 | 7:25 pm PDT, Oct 21 | Jessica Posega | Michigan | 49913 | United States | This is an archaic law, please do not let it continue to be on he books. |
FDA: Stop Banning Gay Men From Donating Blood
To The FDA:
We, the undersigned, feel that the lifetime deferral on blood donations from men who have had sex with other men is outdated, unnecessary, and discriminatory.
We appeal to you to lift this ban. Hundreds of thousands of otherwise eligible donors are turned away from helping save lives.
We hereby pledge that we will fill the blood banks as we all donate blood the week this ban is lifted.
Note: This FDA: Stop Banning Gay Men From Donating Blood petition was submitted by Peter Brooks, RN. ThePetitionSite.com is a free service provided to help concerned citizens rally support for issues they believe in. The opinions expressed by this petition do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ThePetitionSite.com or Care2.com. There is no express or implied endorsement of this petition nor any newsletter offers (except those from Care2.com) by Care2.com, Inc, ThePetitionSite.com, or our sponsors. If you believe this system is being abused, please contact customer support.
Questions about this petition? Contact the petition sponsor: Peter Brooks, RN.
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