Is it fair that homosexual men cannot give blood?

[Nixt]

Technically homosexual males can give blood, providing they haven't had any form of sexual contact with another male. Is this fair? Personally, I think it is extremely unfair.

Statement on why homosexual males cannot give blood.

My argument is that HIV/AIDS is prevalent in the whole of society nowadays, in fact looking at the statistics for 2007 35% of new diagnoses were homosexual or bisexual and 47% were heterosexual. There are about 25,000 undiagnosed individuals though and then the homosexual or bisexual males who contracted HIV while it was rife in the homosexual/bisexual communities is still considerable. The last official figure was that 43% of gay / bisexual men are currently living in the UK with HIV and 52% of heterosexual men are currently living in the UK with HIV. Therefore, the National Blood Service's statement on why homosexual males cannot give blood is now obsolete as, at the time, the basis for their exclusion was that homosexual males accounted for 63% off all those diagnosed.

What are your opinions?

[scottish]

yes its fair

[Technologic]

If they can prove they dont have it then they should be able to. I would gladly give blood if i could on my 18th b'day

[Nixt]

yes its fair

Even when you look at the statistics I posted? Try giving a constructive answer with evidence to back up your opinion next time... :rolleyes:

If they can prove they dont have it then they should be able to. I would gladly give blood if i could on my 18th b'day

Yeah that's what I think. Blood goes through a screening process anyway. Yeah they can make mistakes but the gay community is huge and I don't see why we shouldn't be able to donate blood. You can from 17. I've given blood a couple of times... even though I have had plenty of homo action .

[scottish]

Even when you look at the statistics I posted? Try giving a constructive answer with evidence to back up your opinion next time... :rolleyes:

Yes, even when i look at it.

[RandomManJay]

It's a reasonable precaution considering HIV and AIDS is more common in homosexual males and females and until the number decreases, its a good decision to make considering the time and money that would be required for the blood screening and the disposal of infected blood. Also it isn't that if you are a homosexual you cannot give blood, its if you have ever engaged in homosexual sex (for heterosexuals, bisexuals and homosexuals), if you haven't had homosexual sex, then its fine to give blood because you wont have had the chance to be infected with HIV/AIDS through sexual intercourse.

[Nixt]

Yes, even when i look at it.

Your skills in debating far exceed comprehension. I bow down to you.

In response to your comment, iSarcastix I am merely going to quote from my original post...

It's a reasonable precaution considering HIV and AIDS is more common in homosexual males and females

The last official figure was that 43% of gay / bisexual men are currently living in the UK with HIV and 52% of heterosexual men are currently living in the UK with HIV.

its a good decision to make considering the time and money that would be required for the blood screening and the disposal of infected blood.

Blood goes through a screening process anyway.

Also it isn't that if you are a homosexual you cannot give blood, its if you have ever engaged in homosexual sex (for heterosexuals, bisexuals and homosexuals), if you haven't had homosexual sex, then its fine to give blood because you wont have had the chance to be infected with HIV/AIDS through sexual intercourse.

As said in my first post: Technically homosexual males can give blood, providing they haven't had any form of sexual contact with another male.

[RandomManJay]

In response to your comment, iSarcastix I am merely going to quote from my original post...

The last official figure was that 43% of gay / bisexual men are currently living in the UK with HIV and 52% of heterosexual men are currently living in the UK with HIV.

It's still fairly a high ratio, but the main concern about it is whether or not homosexuals are actually engaging in safe sex, which it's in common belief that they're not as much as heterosexuals, so it could be assumed that the amount of HIV positive homosexuals could be higher than heterosexuals because its believed that heterosexuals engage in safer sex, and that homosexuals aren't aware of their contamination.

Blood goes through a screening process anyway.

The screening process only suggests the possibility of contamination from which if there is, the blood is further tested, so if the blood does suggest HIV/AIDS, then it must undergo additional testing to verify and to ensure false-positives etc, this is where the money would go to, also considering the amount of blood which would have to be disposed of would also be need to considered, it requires a lot of funding for that as well.

As said in my first post: Technically homosexual males can give blood, providing they haven't had any form of sexual contact with another male.

Lol, just noticed that bit, I just looked from the bold part downwards, sorry .

[-:Undertaker:-]

I think that if the rate of infection is higher with homosexuals than hetrosexuals then the rule should stay in place, i'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to end up HIV because of some government equality scheme. The NHS is over-funded and still lacking money as it is and the country itself is saddled with debt, the worst debt crisis we have ever faced and according to the Conservatives, the worst in the western world taking up 14% of GDP.

I would say wait, until everything is sorted and more important issues are sorted, we still have people dying because the NHS does not have the proper treatment/moeny to fund treatment as it is, we don't need to burden it any further.

[Technologic]

Your skills in debating far exceed comprehension. I bow down to you.

In response to your comment, iSarcastix I am merely going to quote from my original post...

The last official figure was that 43% of gay / bisexual men are currently living in the UK with HIV and 52% of heterosexual men are currently living in the UK with HIV.



Blood goes through a screening process anyway.


As said in my first post: Technically homosexual males can give blood, providing they haven't had any form of sexual contact with another male.

52% of men have HIV?

Pardon... Dont you mean 52% of men with HIV are heterosexual and 43% homosexual?