Why are gay men barred from donating blood?

But honestly, it’s true. I’ve donated blood a few times now, so I know how it goes.

Because you all are nothing but a walking bag of infectious filth! I hope you all end up HIV-positive!

If you listen to the official word, anyone can donate blood as long as they’re healthy—though, of course, they still flag certain groups, like gay men, as high-risk.
But from what I understand, plenty of people are eligible, and even those managing serious health issues can often donate under specific circumstances.

Anyway, since this topic is already being brought up, just go out and donate. It doesn't cost you anything. If you have questions, there are professionals there to answer them, or if you're feeling awkward or embarrassed about asking, just ask here. Ignorance is usually the biggest hurdle in pretty much everything we do, so if you're curious about something, just speak up.

No need for me to comment on the post above mine; the author pretty much said everything they needed to say about themselves.

Forgive my ignorance, but how exactly do the people drawing blood know if someone is gay? Does this apply just to men, or to lesbians too? (I’m not sure why I immediately thought of men first—I guess I fell right into that stereotypical way of thinking).

If it all comes down to whether they feel like disclosing their orientation or not, then the whole process of donating or receiving blood feels like a total gamble, especially if their blood is considered "bad"... 😈

Hannah Evans70 said:Forgive me if I'm being totally clueless here, but how on earth do the people drawing your blood actually know if you're gay? Does this even apply to women, or just guys? (I don't know why, but my mind went straight to men first. I guess I just fell for the stereotype).

If this whole thing just relies on whether or not they decide to be honest about their orientation, then donating blood feels like a massive gamble—especially if their blood is supposedly "bad."😈

Look, it’s not a gamble because they test the blood. Besides, before you donate, you have to fill out that annoying little questionnaire about diseases and general health stuff. It's basically just checking boxes. I've done it maybe twice—once in San Diego and once in Washington, D.C. Just a tiny little slip with Yes/No questions.

It isn't a lottery since they test everything.

Gerald James73 said:If you listen to the official line, anyone can just volunteer their blood if they're feeling generous enough.

No way. Any guy who’s ever slept with another man is basically off the table forever—assuming he isn't stupid enough or "honest" enough to actually come clean about it.

Kimberly Davis52 said:nah. any guy who’s ever had sex with another man is permanently banned—unless he’s stupid enough or "honest" enough to actually tell them.

Fair point. My bad, I should've double-checked before chiming in:

Around 10% of donors get turned away during screening. They might be deferred temporarily or even permanently. It always boils down to one thing: protecting the donor's health or making sure the blood supply doesn't put the patient at risk.
- You can't donate if it would harm your own health or if your blood could jeopardize the recipient's safety.
- People dealing with acute or chronic illnesses, those on antibiotics or certain other meds, people who aren't feeling up to it, those on strict diets, or anyone with high-risk behaviors are ineligible.
- If someone gets rejected, the staff explains exactly why and answers all their questions.

Permanent Deferrals:
1. Permanent bans apply to anyone who has or currently has serious chronic issues involving the respiratory or digestive systems, heart disease, cardiovascular issues, cancer, liver disease, AIDS, diabetes, or neurological and mental health conditions.
2. High-risk behavior leads to permanent deferral:
- alcohol or drug addiction,
- men who have had sexual contact with other men,
- men or women who have had sex with sex workers,
- people with multiple sexual partners,
- anyone who has used drugs intravenously,
- anyone treated for STIs (like syphilis or gonorrhea),
- people who are HIV-positive,
- the sexual partners of any of the above.

Temporary Deferrals:
Donations are just put on hold for:
- minor acute issues (colds, stomach bugs, low iron, etc.),
- recovery after surgery,
- after receiving transfusions or certain vaccinations,
- mild blood pressure issues,
- women who are menstruating, pregnant, or breastfeeding.

If you're on medication, you absolutely have to tell the doctor during the screening. Meds can be passed through the blood and cause side effects for the patient.
This info comes out during the consultation and physical exam.

Please, just be honest during every medical screening. Talk to the doctor about your concerns; it’s how you protect both yourself and everyone else.

Being a blood donor is a privilege that comes with a huge responsibility toward the patient.

The facility operates under its own set of regulations, and those protocols ought to be strictly followed... I see some individuals choosing to disregard them, and frankly, they'll have to answer to their own conscience for that🙄

As for why these specific rules exist, I won't presume to speculate; I lack the necessary expertise to comment on such matters...

You can find all that info just by clicking the link Chem posted back in their sixth message on this thread.

mellowgull80 said:And why they are like that? Look, I'm not getting into it. I'm not an expert on this stuff...

Because some idiot wrote them. If a guy at 20—drunk, experimenting, hooking up with a buddy, then gets married and stays faithful to one woman for the next twenty years—he's barred from donating blood. Why? Because the trace of a virus caught from some hookup back in his youth can never be detected again.🙄

Kimberly Davis52 said:it’s because an idiot was the one drafting these rules. look, if a guy spends his early twenties being reckless—drinking heavily, experimenting, maybe having a fling with a male friend—and then settles down and stays faithful to one woman for the next twenty years, he shouldn't be disqualified from donating blood. the reality is, once you've moved on, there is no way for medical testing to ever detect a virus contracted from those past encounters. 🙄

That perspective might just be limited to your own viewpoint. I suspect a medical professional wouldn't necessarily see eye-to-eye with you on this... regardless, if these policies are an issue for them, they should simply vote for change at the polls...