The Red Cross is Denying Queer Donors and it’s Killing People

   The Hoban community is no stranger to the blood donation process. NHS’ annual blood drive for the Red Cross saw over 100 students sign up to donate last year. The Red Cross has a constant need for blood, and just one donation can save up to three lives. In the United States, however, an entire community is consistently turned away from donating.

    Up until 2015, men who had sex with men (MSM) were barred completely from donating blood. The policy has now changed, stating that a donor whose “last MSM contact was greater than 12 months ago may be eligible to donate” (Red Cross of America).

    Understandably, the policy was put in place after the HIV/AIDS crisis of 1983. In 2005, 22 years later, gay men still made up 49 percent of new HIV diagnoses in the US (HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report).

    That being said, the Red Cross rigorously tests all of it’s donations for viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis and Hepatitis C. So, if their blood will be tested anyway, why do MSM have so many hoops to jump through in order to donate?

   Well, the Red Cross and supporters of the 12-month mandate argue that HIV has a window period of three to six months.The window period means that the virus can be present within the blood but the blood can still test as clean. However, those opposed to the year-long need for abstinence argue that modern technology and tests have reduced it to a window period of four weeks to three months.

    The argument came to a climax after 49 people were killed and numerous more injured during the shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub. The club was a popular spot for members of the LGBT+ community, and many victims of the attack were LGBT. When the Red Cross announced that the injured victims had a desperate need for blood, LGBT people lined up to help their friends and community.

    MSM were all turned away. They were denied the ability to donate and aid their hurting friends.

    At some point, the question has to be asked: if there is such a constant need for blood and if every donation is rigorously tested with the newest, most detailed tests, then why does the Red Cross and FDA insist upon turning away so many willing donors just because of their love life?

    Blood donations are desperately needed, an entire community is ready and willing to help. These archaic and discriminatory rules are actually killing people; it must come to an end.