Originally Posted by
Morland
I'm absolutely with BBB here - this is still discrimination, although the National Blood Service has managed to get loads of positive publicity about "lifting the ban". People who have unprotected heterosexual sex are at risk of HIV too, yet they'd never think of saying that you couldn't give blood if you'd had straight sex within the last year.
A lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
The smart thing would be to defer ANYONE that has had unprotected sex in the past 12 months. It's absurd that a gay person who is in an exclusive relationship (or even who isn't who always practices safe sex and is NEG) can't donate yet a hetrosexual who could be having unprotected sex a couple times a week with multiple partners isn't even asked that question and can give (as long as they aren't paying for it).
The question about having sex with a male before 197X needs to be eliminated and there needs to be a question asking if you have had any unprotected sex in the last 12 months. Even if someone is married and having unprotected sex there is a possiblity they or their spouse isn't being faithful