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We, the Undersigned, endorse the following petition:

FDA: Stop Banning Gay Men From Donating Blood

Target: Donald Jehn, Chairman, FDA Blood Products Advisory Committee
Sponsor: Peter Brooks, RN
  • Signatures: 2,792
  • Goal: 1,000
  • Deadline: 9-15-2007
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.

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Number Date Prefix Name State Zip/Postal Code Country Send your message to the FDA here.
2,815 9:05 pm PST, Nov 4   Thomas Ackerman Florida 32313 United States Why is my blood less valuable than a heterosexual person? Why is my blood insignificant, when in today's world, thousands of individuals are in dire need of blood? Who are you to deny healthy, safe individuals the ability to share their blood and help others who need it?
2,814 7:42 am PST, Nov 3 Ms. Jessica Erichsen Pennsylvania 19148 United States Why is a healthy, willing homosexual man banned from donating blood, but a African-American or Latino drug-addicted prostitute would be able walk right in and donate? This completely boggles my mind.
2,813 2:16 pm PDT, Oct 29   Jaclyn Ralph California 95667 United States HIV is not a gay disease, stop treating it that way!
2,812 2:43 pm PDT, Oct 28 Ms. Alisha Piekarski Minnesota 56537 United States It doesn't matter untill people starting dieing becuase the increaseing blood shortage in america. HOW MANY HAVE TO DIE BEFORE CHANGE IS MADE???,,, This is frekin ridiculous if a gay person has good blood why the hell not let them donate!?
2,811 4:07 pm PDT, Oct 24 Mr. Tim Eich Colorado 80111 United States As a medical student and future health care provider, I am astounded that discrimination is such a powerful factor in maintaining the shortage of blood across the country. At the very least change the regulations to reflect behavior, not category.
2,810 10:51 am PDT, Oct 23   Anonymous Wisconsin 54915 United States You need to start letting gay's donate. The discrimination is ridiculous, and uncalled for. You test blood anyway and there is such a need for it, why would you turn willing participants away? You need to stop hating and start saving more lives.
2,809 4:02 pm PDT, Oct 17 Ms. Zoe Belvin North Carolina 28204 United States There is no legitimate reason to ban gay men from donating blood. The only argument with any sort of credibility is the AIDS argument, which, as this group has shown beyond the shadow of a doubt, holds no water whatsoever. No other group is banned from donating- this is a clear-cut case of unconstitutional discrimination.
2,808 11:28 am PDT, Oct 16 Mr. Daniel Tao Massachusetts 01267 United States Given the amount of effort the Red Cross and other organizations spend trying to convince people to donate blood, it seems awfully to undermine their efforts by preventing a group of people who would otherwise happily donate from donating for no good reason. We've developed blood tests for HIV, and we're pretty sure homosexuality isn't a bloodborne illness, so there is no reason to continue this outdated and narrowminded policy. A lot of us would be happy to do our part, if you'd only let us.
2,807 6:56 pm PDT, Oct 11 Ms. Anonymous North Carolina 28205 United States Please lift the restriction that currently bans gay men from donating blood. The policy is a relic from a time of fear and discrimination, and we can no longer allow it to influence or represent our values. It sacrifices potentially life-saving donations in the name of an outdated prejudice, and sends the message that an entire group of Americans is still considered dirty, dangerous, and unworthy of saving the lives of their peers. The time has long been ripe for a change.
2,806 7:56 pm PDT, Oct 4   Richard Shafer Maryland 21042 United States Please lift the ban on blood donations from gay men. The current policy only encourages men to lie and screens potentially lifesaving blood from injured people. i would like to see the look on the dying person's face if you told them that you couldn't save their life because you didn't allow a guy who has had "sexual contact" with another guy to donate. Ask them if they would care. Your responsibility is to save lives, not to exclude a group of people by making generalizations about their health and promiscuity.
2,805 9:33 am PDT, Oct 2   Anonymous New Jersey 08098 United States We all bleed the same blood. This is evidently discrimination against a large sector of the population that otherwise could help in the fight against the shortage of blood. Let them give!
2,804 10:35 am PDT, Sep 21   Anonymous Pennsylvania 15955 United States There is no need to continue this discrimination. Especially now that you test the blood. Let us help you save lives.
2,803 7:17 pm PDT, Sep 20   MacKenzie Lunney Kansas 66061 United States It's ridiculous to not allow gay men to donate. Absolutely ridiculous.
2,802 11:44 pm PDT, Sep 16   Kelsey Rook Oregon 97405 United States please allow my friends and loved ones to make a difference!!
2,801 7:39 pm PDT, Sep 16   Joshua Berkowitz Massachusetts 02375 United States End discrimination! We want to give blood too.
2,800 12:49 am PDT, Sep 16 Mr. Al Britten   CV5 6DT United Kingdom Just plain discrimination
2,799 1:03 pm PDT, Sep 8   Corban Bates Texas 75207 United States Ridiculous
2,798 8:34 am PDT, Sep 2   Kaitlyn Proto Massachusetts 02134 United States With the advanced methods of HIV testing available today, the ban on gay men from donating blood is not only unnecessary, it's discriminatory and a danger to our nation's blood supply.
2,797 4:40 pm PDT, Aug 25   Marc Silva California 95380 United States Today I drove 30 minutes to the closest blood bank, and filled out all the paperwork to find out that the United States of America does not see me as an equal citizen in the eyes of the law. I'm disappointed in this country; I truely feel like a second class citizen.
2,796 12:33 pm PDT, Aug 25 Ms. Meredith Gasco Michigan 49855 United States The lifetime ban on men who have had sex with men, even once, since the 1970s is discriminatory and unscientifically sound. The current wording of the question does not allow for gay men who are in monogamous relationships or gay men who routinely practice safe sex, who would have much lower chances of being HIV+ than any higher-risk group (very few of which are deferred for more than 12 months before donating again). If anal sex and HIV is a major concern for the blood supply, then at least reword the question to specify unprotected anal sex.
2,795 1:09 am PDT, Aug 24   Samuel Honner   2518 Australia The ban on gay men, who've had sex within a year, donating blood is not only stupid, but actually quite scary. The reasons given by the FDA for this makes it seem like they wouldn't test for STI's. Shouldn't they simply run as many tests as possible to see if there is an STI present? I'm not allowed to donate because I'm gay, yet I'm a Universal Donor, and blood donation agencies are complaining about how little blood they have available... The question should be "Have you had sex with anyone who may have had exposure to STI's within the past year?" and have it apply to everyone.
2,794 4:02 pm PDT, Aug 22 Ms. Andrea Santaquilani Tennessee 37416 United States I beleive that this is a very ignorant thing to do.I beleive that just because a person has a certain orientation,it shouldnt be assumed that their blood is not worth donating.If they offer to help save someones life,they should be looked at in the same way any other doner is.Please stop this rediculous system based on a steriotype.
2,793 8:23 pm PDT, Aug 10   Brian Orlando Rhode Island 02895 United States This is an old ban, and needs to change.
2,792 11:36 am PDT, Jul 22 Mr. Sergio Morua-Martinez New York 11213 United States Dear FDA, Please stop banning gay men from donating blood. Not only is your policy concerning blood donation discriminatory, but it is also quite out of date. Nowadays, as opposed to 1983 when your policy was enacted, blood is routinely tested for HIV infection. It would be reasonable for you to allow all men and women who are HIV negative to donate blood and help save lives.
2,791 8:16 am PDT, Jul 21   Anna Flanagan Maine 04103 United States The idea that all gay men have AIDS is harmful and false. Ending this ban will save lives.
2,790 4:37 pm PDT, Jul 17 Mr. Jonny Puglia New York 11742 United States Why Can't I ?
2,789 6:25 pm PDT, Jun 28   Amanda Care Illinois 60201 United States Why lose lives over sexual orientation?
2,788 9:47 pm PDT, Jun 22 Mr. John Salinas California 94501 United States It's finally time to allow healthy gay men to do their part. Blood donatios are tested for many different diseases currently, including HIV. Allowing this group to donate regularly would increase the amount of blood being donated significantly.
2,787 9:48 pm PDT, Jun 20   Jonathan Morley Michigan 48801 United States Seriously? This "guideline" is stupid and pointless. If I want to save a life, I should be allowed -- nothing else should matter.
2,786 6:04 pm PDT, Jun 14   Nathan TerMolen Michigan 49426 United States The current policy puts the public at risk by reenforcing the myth that HIV is a gay disease. If you're going to exclude people based on as broad an identifier as sexual orientation and not based on what their actual risk is,race should be included. Why not ban African-American women? Their risk is elevated. Why not include religion, state/city of residence and level of education? Oh, that's right...it's not acceptable to discriminate based on THOSE criteria. The current policy is a shameful, blunt and bigoted disservice to all Americans.
2,785 5:31 pm PDT, Jun 11   Kia Sherrod North Carolina 27610 United States This is the most ignorant thing I have ever heard of. As a fighter of gay rights this sickens me. It reminds me of the ignorance that is killing us.
2,784 6:53 am PDT, Jun 11   Marie Andrews Rhode Island 02835 United States This ban is motivated ONLY by extreme prejudice and should be revoked.
2,783 9:22 am PDT, Jun 10 Mrs. Anonymous     Finland This is archaic and discriminating.
2,782 11:52 am PDT, May 29 Mr. Jake Steiner Washington 98115 United States This is archaic and discriminatory.
2,781 4:53 pm PDT, May 28 Mr. Paul Birkvold Washington 98270 United States It is very important to update your policies and stop discriminating!!
2,780 12:40 am PDT, May 24   Sarah Haugse Montana 59102 United States Because of the advances in modern medical technology to test blood for various diseases, this ban should be lifted. It is discriminatory.
2,779 9:01 pm PDT, May 22   Aaron Tindall Pennsylvania 15213 United States I want to help. Why can't I?
2,778 1:35 pm PDT, May 21   Frey Seagrove Utah 84058 United States I'm a healthy man with O positive blood. Let me help save lives too!
2,777 11:04 pm PDT, May 20 Mr. Ryan Magnuson Illinois 60660 United States Please stop the discrimination.
2,776 10:23 am PDT, May 15 Mr. Greg Vinkler New Jersey 07060 United States Stop this now!
2,775 9:04 am PDT, May 14   Rebecca Blair Kentucky 40383 United States Stop Banning Gay Men From Donating Blood
2,774 8:53 am PDT, May 14   Grace Weitz Illinois 60201 United States It is common knowledge that the AIDS epidemic is not just affect gay men. Furthermore, the use of safe sex practices have greatly increase. If we do not have sexual discrimination in the workplace and other areas of our life here in the United States, there should not be discrimination when giving blood. Millions of people need the blood that is donated, so stop banning gay men from donationg blood.
2,773 7:34 am PDT, May 14   Anthony Scribano New York 10128 United States Something needs to be done to overturn the FDA ban. It is ridiculous that today in 2009; individuals have to face such discrimination. Go to your gay and lesbian organizations and talk about what we need to do as a society to change this ignorance towards people based on their sexual orientation. I am going to begin to research and hopefully make a difference towards the lifting of this ban and I am hoping that more people will join together in this fight for equality. Blood testing should sufficient.
2,772 6:50 am PDT, May 14   Claire Arctander Illinois 60625 United States healthy blood is in high demand and this policy prevents a large sector of the population from doing their part.
2,771 6:06 am PDT, May 14   kaitlin Barancik Illinois 60201 United States This is ridiculous. I can only hope this policy is an oversight. What century are we in?
2,770 8:59 pm PDT, May 13 Mr. Tyler Baranski Illinois 60201 United States This is as discriminatory as the ban against gay marriage.
2,769 6:14 pm PDT, May 13   Jesus Salazar Texas 78758 United States I want to be allowed to donate.
2,768 6:13 pm PDT, May 13   Mykell Miller Illinois 60201 United States False negatives are extremely rare, so testing all blood should be sufficient.
2,767 5:34 pm PDT, May 13   Gabrielle Knight Illinois 60201 United States This policy is discriminatory and is not rational.
2,766 4:57 pm PDT, May 13   Kathryn Smiley Illinois 60201 United States It's a horrible double standard to universally discriminate against homosexuals due to their chance of getting an STI while assuming that all straight people are negative.
2,765 4:33 pm PDT, May 13 Mr. Rich Eide Illinois 60201 United States Homophobia is insulting to everyone.
2,764 4:26 pm PDT, May 13   Jacquelyn Guerrero Illinois 60201 United States Anyone who has unprotected sex can get HIV/AIDS.
2,763 1:50 pm PDT, May 13   Missy Carvin New York 10591 United States I regularly donate blood and local blood banks are always ind eparate need for blood an dblood products. I see no reason to deny a large percentage of our population from giving the gift of life.
2,762 11:35 am PDT, May 13 Mr. Jesus Perez Illinois 60645 United States I lived thru the 80's and I watched many of my friends not make it thru the epidemic. We as a nation have come far in our fight against AIDS. Blood is life and we can continue to give life. Ffor those of us that survived the 80's let us do something to help others. Let us give Blood. The times have changed, we can be informed, the Blood can be tested and people in need can live full lives. Don't prevent them from LIVING, by preventing us from GIVING!
2,761 11:00 am PDT, May 13   Sherri Hooks Vermont 05478 United States This is seriously ridiculous with the blood testing that we do nowadays.
2,760 10:10 am PDT, May 13   Anonymous Illinois 60640 United States I can't believe that this ban is still in place.
2,759 9:11 am PDT, May 13   Anonymous Montana 59105 United States This is total discrimination. As a committed gay men, this is completely wrong. It is ignorant to assume gay people have a disease.
2,758 7:49 am PDT, May 13   Blood lady North Carolina 27613 United States I work in the blood banking industry, and I can't believe that people are refusing to donate blood b/c of this FDA requirement. OOne lady states, she would rather die? Tell that to the mom of 26 week old baby that needed EIGHT transfusions. Also, do some research. Gay men are deferred because statistically that group had a higher percentage of positive test for Hep B and Hiv. It's just stats. Their risk 60 times higher than the other populations. We defer all kinds of people for Mad Cow. My goodness, everyone in England is totally banned and the stats are minimal that they have mad cow, but it's a safety net added to the blood supply. Tests for HIV still miss the "window." It may seem crazy, but deferring everyone that lived abroad discriminates much more than the gay male deferral .
2,757 12:27 am PDT, May 13 Mr. Elliott Glass Illinois 60201 United States I know my blood can save lives.
2,756 11:33 pm PDT, May 12 Ms. Anonymous Arizona 85281 United States The 1980s are gone.
2,755 3:30 pm PDT, May 12 Ms. priya patel Washington 98012 United States i mean come on. is that really necessary? how is that even legal?
2,754 12:00 pm PDT, May 12   stacey morgan Kentucky 40108 United States they screen the blood anyways, let them donate, not everyone has a disease, and who knows some of these men may have disease fighters in their blood that could help someone!
2,753 7:43 am PDT, May 12 Mrs. kelsea feathers Washington 98373 United States there is absolutly nothing wrong with the blood of a gay man. or anyone thats gay for that matter. the world needs blood and if they want to donate why should there be anyone with the right to tell them no? let them donate! they want to, we need blood, i see nothing wrong!
2,752 8:03 pm PDT, May 10 Ms. Elyse Dunstan Virginia 22150 United States I used to give blood regularly until I heard that gay men are not allowed to donate. Do you think the person whose life could be saved is worried about the sex life of the person who donated? "I'm sorry, please don't save my life with that blood. I'd rather die." I really don't think so. Please life the ban.
2,751 7:35 am PDT, Apr 30   Kenneth W. Wood, Jr. Virginia 23936 United States This makes me think the blood isn't screened as it should be. The country is in such a need for blood, yet so many people are being turned down.

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.

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