Do you donate blood yes/no and why?

I have, but I haven't donated in like 8 years. The first time I donated was at a school blood drive. When I tried again, they said the iron in my blood was too low (which is funny considering they took it the first time). I think it's a noble thing to do. Do your small part in helping others.

Legally, I'm not eligible.

Why's that, Chris?


And to answer, no.

I donated blood for a while, and then the Red Cross asked me to start to donate plasma. There is a place here that people get paid to do that, but they don't pay. But for years I did just to be a good person. I have stopped going because ever since the first time I donated, my vein in my left arm has been troublesome. All the nurses know that and it had gotten to the point where none of them wanted to be my nurse. I hate the needles and the pain and how I usually felt ill afterword. So, I decided it wasn't worth it when they all made me feel like there was something so bad about me and I was trying to do something good.

Nah, not my thing.

I too am not eligible.

Gay men who have has sex after the year 1973 are not allowed to donate blood per Center for Disease Control.

Regardless of the health status of that individual.

Fetaby, don't feel like you have to answer at all, I suspect I am over-stepping by asking....but how does that make you feel? I think that it is unfair for them to exclude such a demographic. Obviously, they are looking at HIV risk, but isn't a young 20 something girl more "risky" than an older gay male? I would think so.

I know all the questions they ask, but never knew that one would be excluded based on the male gay sex one. I know that two of the questions, I had thought may exclude me were the one about new piercings, and the other about having sex with someone who was on blood thinners within the last year. Both times those applied to me, they were just fine with it.

RedBedroom wrote:

Fetaby, don't feel like you have to answer at all, I suspect I am over-stepping by asking....but how does that make you feel? I think that it is unfair for them to exclude such a demographic. Obviously, they are looking at HIV risk, but isn't a young 20 something girl more "risky" than an older gay male? I would think so.

I know all the questions they ask, but never knew that one would be excluded based on the male gay sex one. I know that two of the questions, I had thought may exclude me were the one about new piercings, and the other about having sex with someone who was on blood thinners within the last year. Both times those applied to me, they were just fine with it.

This very outdated provision still being on the books makes no sense at all, since all donor blood is screened anyway.

Thanks for that reply, Chris.

Yeah, it is so outdated. Like you say, it is all screened anyway. Plus, I have noticed that there are ways for people who donate to somewhat anonymously indicate that their blood should not be used. That is for cases like a work or school promoted blood drive, so that people who feel that they are at risk should not have to not donate to "out" themselves to some degree. There is a box to check about not using the donation.

I really have a problem with gay males who have had gay sex since early 70's being excluded. That is ridiculous. It infers that a gay male, no matter his age, or the amount of years he has been monogamous, is "risky"...so what if he is...it is all tested anyways. Just like a single person in their 20's is tested. I can say that in a very general analysis, I would much more think a gay guy who is 35+ is safer about being HIV than a 20 something cute college coed.

I used to but haven't for awhile.

My Mom donated for years but was then told that she could no longer donate blood because she'd received blood transfusions in the late 70's, even though there's nothing wrong with her or her blood. I guess anyone who received blood transfusions in the 70's or earlier can't donate anymore.

I've never donated blood. I saw that donating-blood-scene in "Sunshine Cleaning" and it scared the hell out of me.

Selfish as it sounds: no.
Don't like needles. If someone I knew was in need of my type and I was their only option, then I probably would, but I haven't ever had the urge to randomly donate just to be charitable.

Anyone else?

Marc™ wrote:

Do you donate blood yes/no and why?

I used to donate blood, but now I don't. Even though I'm not a Jehovahs Witness, I currently subscribe to their intepretation of the bible as it pertains to blood transfusions. I don't beleive we were meant to share blood and I believe that may be biblically supported through scripture. Even though this is one issue that I've "flip-flopped" over several times, I am currently not confident enough to say that it's okay to change my mind in favor of blood donation.

fetaby wrote:

I too am not eligible.

Gay men who have has sex after the year 1973 are not allowed to donate blood per Center for Disease Control.

Regardless of the health status of that individual.

You know what's really funny about this rule? It didn't pertain to any gay male serving in the US military from 1993-2010 due to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Military members were routinely encouraged to donate blood, but they were not allowed to ask us about our sexual orientation.

no i have never donated blood

Yes, when I can. I've only done it twice because I'm always pregnant or breastfeeding, or I don't weigh enough (you have to weigh 110)...

Commemorative Blood Donation
by Shale Stone
August 6, 2011

Call it a convergence of events - or synchronicity but I know one place I will be on September 13, 2011. I will be donating blood at a Red Cross collection site in St. Peters, Missouri.

Donating blood is not so unusual for me. I donate regularly on Miami Beach (Bloodmobile is parked each weekend outside the Regal Cinema on Lincoln Road).


The Community Blood Centers of South Florida just sent me a certificate for three gallons of donations earlier this year but my own records back to 1987 show I've been tapped for five gallons.


So, why will I be donating in Missouri on a specific date? Especially, since I will be returning to South Florida the next day. It's just to satisfy my sense of order - of commemorating events on anniversary dates.

I will be staying at my sister's house most of September, taking care of the dog and visiting mom while she goes to visit her son on his 40th birthday. Guess she also likes to commemorate certain dates. She was planning to visit him ten years ago on his 30th birthday, which is September 11th but we know what happened on that day in 2001. So my trip was planned and I would be there until the 14th.

Still you may be wondering why specifically the 13th. Well that will be a 10th anniversary for me and it was brot to my attention by my last blood donation, which was on July 17th.
On the Sheet at the blood bank, they wrote my next eligible date to donate, which is
09-11-11. That date, 9-11 is permanently etched in our national consciousness and I determined to donate blood again in commemoration.

Well, September 11th this year falls on Sunday and the blood banks are closed. But ten years ago I did not donate on the 11th. I was at work watching the horrific events unfold on a TV in our dining room. I actually went a couple days later on the 13th of September as did a million other Americans. The Red Cross at the time reported that 1.4 million Americans had tried to schedule blood donations within 10 hours of the attack. The blood banks were inundated with people wanting to do something. Sadly, they didn't need the anticipated blood - there were relatively few injuries, with 3,000 deaths.

But I did donate on September 13th 2001 and plan to commemorate that event a decade later. It won't be a waste. There is always a need for this life-giving fluid.

Commemorative Blood Donation Update:
September 13, 2011

The 10th anniversary Blood Donation was accomplished today in St. Peters, Missouri.