I am a young healthy male with a valuable blood type. I used to donate blood every 8 weeks, I was on the bone marrow donation list, and I am planning on donating all of my organs when I die. However, nobody wants any of this stuff from me anymore. Crazy, right? I don’t have a disease, I’m not at all sick, as previously mentioned, I am totally healthy. However, I am gay. Because of this one thing, I am not allowed to donate blood or offer a life-saving donation of bone marrow.
I understand the complexity of bone marrow transplant and I understand the importance of a donation completely free of infection. But just because I am gay, doesn’t mean I am infected. I have only ever had one partner my entire life. My partner has only ever had one partner his entire life. I have never had an STD and I definitely don’t have HIV. I think it is pathetic that I am automatically disqualified from donation (saving a life) just because of my sexual orientation. So to the person that is reading this and is waiting for a bone marrow transplant, I’m ready to help.
Joshua Miller
Gilbert
Dale Whiting posted at 7:13 am on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
Joshua,
You've got to understand that we Neo-cons, social conservatives fear without rational. We not only fear same sex attractedness [mayby it's catching], but we fear Muslims. And in 1941, our forefathers feared Japaneese. Perhaps it's in bred?
When we humans have limited exposure to cultures and morays withwhich we are unfamiliar, we place a white hat on our ways and a black hat on the ways we don't understand. Notwithstanding the counsel to "judge not," we judge without first coming to know from the inside out those whom we judge.
I'm thankful this Veterans Day to have gotten to know you a bit more. And I hope anyone needing your blood or bone marrow will be able to get to know you even better. After all, that is the Christian thing to do!
But all you Islamophobes out there. Know that being Muslim does not disqualify one from being a blood or organ doner! Fear that, why don't you?
Morningstar72 posted at 8:04 am on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
WOW! talk about making a big deal out of nothing...do you think you are the only one who is not allowed to donate blood? neither are females with missed periods either bud! I am sure they don't want people who have smooch orgies to donate, and people into bestiality either, since we are talking sexual orientation. I have yet to hear if a woman making whoopie with a cucumber is disqualified yet, but probably! Congrats on getting on the Gay bandwagon to make a big deal out of nothing! ha ha
Arizona Willie posted at 9:12 am on Fri, Nov 11, 2011.
I don't understand this very well. From what I have seen in the paper, there are people living with AIDS for years and years now.
They don't have it cured, but it seems they can somewhat control it.
So if someone is going to die in 2 days if they don't get a heart of liver or something why not use this guys?
Better to live a few more years with AIDS than to die tomorrow isn't it?
Morningstar .... you need to see the mental help people.
Rational Human posted at 9:04 am on Sat, Nov 12, 2011.
@Dale
Muslims, unlike gay men, tend not to be promiscuous. The gay lifestyle is very promiscuous and AIDS still runs rampant through the gay community.
@Arizona Willie
Would you like to be infused with AIDS tainted blood because it's a controllable disease now? You are the one who needs mental health counseling.
Over twenty years ago I had a false positive of hepatitis C for a blood donation - I was a regular donor - Subsequent, more definitive testing by the blood bank showed negative for hepatitis C, but because the law says that even a false positive result means I can never donate blood again, I'm banned from donating blood. We need our blood supply safe, and if excluding people like myself and gays and people who share needles and those who frequent prostitutes keeps our blood supply safe, then I'm for it.
Dale Whiting posted at 9:39 pm on Sat, Nov 12, 2011.
Irrational,
The point is Neo-cons stereotype both Muslims and Gays. Sure there is some increased risk with Gays. But clearly there is no special risk with Joshua. That's why I choose to emphasis getting to learn about him. Neo-cons don't get to know others. They simply typecast them. It's a whole lot easier, that way!
Abstract01 posted at 10:15 pm on Sun, Nov 13, 2011.
Rational,
I am in the same situation as you; got exposed to hep-C, had the markers in my blood sample, and have been prohibited from donating blood since that time.
Joshua, giving blood or organs is not the only way to contribute. You can offer time and elbow grease in many different charitable organizations. You can befriend someone at the senior center. If you cannot do more, you can pray for those whose challenges are greater than yours.
Dale Whiting posted at 6:50 am on Thu, Nov 17, 2011.
Irrational and Abstract01,
You both miss the point. Joshua has no markers. Both he and his "significant other" are monogamus. It's what they are, not what they might have, which disqualifies them. They do not have aids. They are not at risk of getting aids, no more at risk that you or I. And the know there is no rational medical reasons why they ought not to be doners. That's the point! Or are you both to dense to get it?