2020 has taken a grim turn for most people on the planet. The spread of Coronavirus has taken over the planet and consumed the thoughts and fears of many people. Of course, with countries, states, and cities going under quarantine and lockdown fewer people are going out and even fewer of them going out to donate blood.
The American Red Cross, as well as several news stations, are urging people to go out donate because of a severe “blood shortage”. Covid-19 is an extremely contagious viral respiratory infection that is affecting millions of people on the planet and definitely creating terror around the idea of leaving the house and having contact with others. The CDC and multiple health organizations are asking for people to practice social distancing, use hand sanitizer and properly wash their hands regularly, and avoid touching one’s face. The American Red Cross and other blood organizations could use all the people they can get, however, homosexual men are banned from donating blood.
The disqualifications for donating blood are posted on a lengthy list on the American Red Cross website. They range from weight and height eligibility to receiving a tattoo in the past 12 months. “Having HIV/Aids or a risk of contracting HIV/Aids” is another disqualification. Understandably, of course, because HIV is a disease transferrable through blood. Among the criteria for a person to be “at risk” of HIV/Aids are high-risk activities like being paid for sex work and sharing needles. Also in this criteria is: you “are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, in the last 12 months” which completely disqualifies any sexually active gay male. Of course, this causes outrage among the gay community not only in situations like this one with Covid-19 but with others like the Orlando Pulse shooting that targeted a gay dance club and killed 50 people in the LGBTQ+ community. Gay men wanted to donate blood to help the shooting victims in the hospital but were denied because of their sexual preferences.
Having this bi-law disqualification adds fuel to the stigma that is HIV/Aids being only a “gay disease”. With precautions of the blood being tested regardless and the development of PrEP (a 99% affective HIV preventative if taken daily) this disqualification is outdated and directed at a specific community out of hysteria from the Aids epidemic.
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