SEATTLE, Jan 24, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- The gay community has accused Seattle
blood banks of discriminating against the majority of gay and bi-sexual men who
wish to donate blood.
Last week's announcement by the Puget Sound Blood Center that blood stock levels
were dangerously low was met with frustration from those who claim the center's
rigid constraints reject approximately 6 percent of its attempted donors, the
Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Wednesday.
"They won't take our blood. They think we're disease carriers," a man said.
Men who claim to have had any sexual contact with a member of their sex since
1977 are automatically put on a deferral list and banned from donating blood.
The Food and Drug Administration said the procedure is designed to shield the
U.S. blood reserve from HIV.
Opponents to the strict donor requirements reportedly claim a more careful
selection of those rejected could avoid such broad disqualifications.
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Copyright 2008 by United Press International