colt-kun:

pkmnlovr:

the-real-eye-to-see:

Didn’t even know people are not allowed to give blood if they are gay

MLM are not allowed to give blood. That includes gay men; bisexual and pansexual men; gay, bi, and pan trans men; and possibly even straight trans women.

The day my friends and I signed up to donate blood, I was SO happy to be helping someone in the world with what little efforts I could attribute but the lady doing the paperwork was like, “Ooo. Soorryyyy. Times are changing fast so hopefully you will be able to donate someday” and it broke my little heart that I couldn’t meaningfully contributing to society with my friends as they light-headedly regrouped with me and asked “Why didn’t you get your blood taken?”

Also if you had sex in the last 12 months with a man who had anal or oral sex with another man.

Or if you’ve had any blood transfusions since 1980.

Or if you have had sex with a “drug user” in the last 12 months (the definition on this ranges.)

or if you have had sex with a sex worker or had sex with someone who has had sex with a sex worker in the last 12 months.

Piercings or tattoos in the last 12 months.

EVER done intravenous drugs.

Been incarcerated for 72+ hours in the last 12 months.

Certain medications and medical conditions. (An understandable one.)

Oh and if you’re trans? You are supposed to self-identify and “self report” if you want to donate.

Which is ridiculous since ALL BLOOD IS TESTED AFTER DONATION. And they will toss the blood and contact the donor if it tests positive for any diseases. I know someone who couldn’t afford a blood test so they donated JUST to see if they got a call back that their blood was unusable.

And all these stipulations can (and have) been LIFTED in times of great crisis, so you gotta ask… how important are these especially since its tested anyways…? Definitely donate responsibly. But the stipulations are ridiculous.

Our generation can’t donate as easily. And we’re blamed for it. I had chemotherapy treatments and am unable to donate and have still gotten shamed when pushy attendants try to ask “don’t you WANT to help?”