3 Answers

• Reputation: 1610 Q&A: 27 0 12 879 49 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 0

  3 0 Not lately for some very lame reasons, but yes, I do. I don't lie, though, since I have not had sex with a man who's had sex with another man since 1977 (the criteria for same-sex contact). Gender hath its privileges. :P But yes, I'd lie if I knew beyond doubt that I was OK and I had to lie to donate. Honestly, I don't see a lot of percentage in your process. Why are you telling the volunteer on the other end of the phone that you can't donate under current rules? I've given this lecture myself to the phlebotomist before I decided it was futile, but the person manning the phones has even less impact on policy than the person sticking you. It's good work, but needs to be done at the macro level, not to someo volunteer trying to get through a list of names. CleverScreenName answered in Pride Week Q&A about 1 year ago | Report 4 comments by davesiknow, CleverScreenName, and davesiknow… 0 0 I guess my problem is that I'm not sure there is a 100% "beyond doubt" in blood donation, at least for any person who's ever been sexually active (queer/not, dudes/chicks). HIV can take years and years to incubate, etc., etc. What I DO 100% believe is that I'm way, way less of a risk than many people who ARE allowed to donate. Is that a reasonable metric? davesiknow commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 You're right, there is no such thing as 100% certainity. But I've had an HIV test and since then have been monogamous with someone who's also had an HIV test. I'm pretty darned sure I'm HIV-. Whether you're more or less of a risk than someone else isn't the point at the time of donation, it's whether you are a risk. CleverScreenName commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 Thanks a ton for answering, CSN. I feel like I've asked 100 people (including Dan) and nobody wants to take it on. And, ditto to testing and monogamy. It's been 8 years since I was with someone who wasn't (the dude who is now) my dom. partner. I was never a particularly HIV type of risky in the first place. But I don't think you or I are ZERO risk. Sloppy-wet-kissing someone isn't a ZERO HIV-risk activity - truly, that's not my friend's brother's whatever. It's so rare but it happens. While I would do that and not worry for a second about getting HIV for my own sake, I wouldn't want to do a ton of that and then give blood. I am zero% selfishly worried I have HIV, but I sweat giving blood at a higher standard. Holy shit you could give someone HIV! I'm just not sure where it's reasonable to draw that line. davesiknow commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 If you don't feel comfortable sharing blood then you probably shouldn't be donating anyway. The rules are not relevant. There's a q at the end of the donor survey that asks if there is any reason you feel like your blood should not be used (they don't want the reason, just to know what you think). It's all about whether you'd check that box. I know my habits and I am comfortable donating. So I will get off my ass and do it. CleverScreenName commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

  Share this answer with a friend:

• Reputation: 3429 Q&A: 66 0 19 2158 469 8 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 3

  5 2 What you describe is deliberately wasting the time and resources of an organization whose mission is helping people. This isn't nordsrom we are talking about. It is a charity dependent on regular people donating time, money and blood. It is terrible that they turn us away for donations just for having had gay sex. But, what you are doing is petty, deliberately wasteful and does nothing to improve our standing on this issue. Kip Waddle answered in Pride Week Q&A about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by davesiknow… 0 0 Oops! Sounds like my question wasn't clear... I am curious about what other gay men do about donating, and I am not so interested in your opinion about what I do. davesiknow commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

  Share this answer with a friend:

• Reputation: 1812 Q&A: 22 0 42 1409 992 23 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 3

  2 0 I'm up to 14 gallons. I have yet to be deferred. O my captain answered in Pride Week Q&A about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

  Share this answer with a friend: