University College Cork LGBT Group Protests Gay Blood Ban

Pet

You have to understand that the IBTS, after the Hepatitis scandals, is one of the most paranoid in the world. So trusted are their rigorous screening procedures that they ship blood to other fussy countries.

And yes it seems a little unfair and discriminatory to exclude gay men, but the fact is gay men in Ireland are more likely to be infected with HIV, the statistics speak for themselves. The IBTS aren't trying to be bastards, or conservative or old-fashioned, they're just covering their own asses.

(No joke intended.)

Hmm_Messiah

Pet wrote:

You have to understand ........
And yes it seems a little unfair and discriminatory to exclude gay men, but the fact is gay men in Ireland are more likely to be infected with HIV, the statistics speak for themselves. The IBTS aren't trying to be bastards, or conservative or old-fashioned, they're just covering their own asses.

Understanding some ones behaviour does not mean you have to tolerate it.

Nor is it a little unfair...... its blatantly, unnecessarily discriminatory, pointlessly so as the blood is tested for virii/antibodies. That its against gay men, for the reason you've given is not conservative, its reactionary, ignorant and bigoted.

Stark

It should be behaviour specific and not orientation specific.

There are comments on their website where they say that they expect any new "insidious" infections to come from the homosexual community again. In my opinion, AIDS struck the homosexual community hardest because at the time, there was little in the way of sex education for homosexuals. These days, homosexuality is legal, so gay health groups can get government funding, and education has moved on a whole lot. A new uncombatted infection is far more likely to come from a different source. With people immigrating from impoverished areas with poor sexual health education and wider exposure to foreign infections, the homosexual community isn't the one to be focusing on as the carriers of new infections.

I think a waiting period for men and women who engage in anal sex and a waiting period for men and women who have sex with an unknown partner would be more appropriate than a blanket ban on gay men giving blood. Outside of the waiting period, testing procedures would signifigantly reduce the risk of an infection being passed on. There'll always be a slight risk, but it would be the same risk that exists for heterosexuals giving blood.

Boston

Pet wrote:

You have to understand that the IBTS, after the Hepatitis scandals, is one of the most paranoid in the world. So trusted are their rigorous screening procedures that they ship blood to other fussy countries.

And yes it seems a little unfair and discriminatory to exclude gay men, but the fact is gay men in Ireland are more likely to be infected with HIV, the statistics speak for themselves. The IBTS aren't trying to be bastards, or conservative or old-fashioned, they're just covering their own asses.

(No joke intended.)

What do you say to the apparent contrast between a man who sleeps with a gay man, and a woman who sleeps with a gay man. One is banned for life while the other is banned for a period of 6 months (might be a year i really can't remember exactly). I don't have to be an expert in the field to realise something isn't right there.