Would-be donors in the Seattle area are accusing blood banks of discriminatory policies banning most gay and bisexual men from giving blood.More...When the Puget Sound Blood Center announced last week that Western Washington's blood supply was at emergency levels, some people responded with frustration at the stringent requirements that deny about 6 percent of those who try to donate blood.
About 24,000 people have been placed on the Western Washington permanent deferral list in the past decade, according to the Puget Sound Blood Center. An extra 3,000 are temporarily deferred, for periods ranging from one day to three years. The area's blood centers have accepted blood from nearly 443,000 donors during the same time.
"It upsets me when I see signs that say, 'We need blood, give now,' but they don't want my blood," said Pete, 26, an office supervisor who lives in North Seattle. He was put on the deferral list three years ago because he had sex with a man one time.
Donors are placed on the list based on their answers to initial screening questions. Men who have had sexual contact with a man, even once, since 1977 are automatically disqualified.
And guess what? No one's probably received HIV from the blood supply either.
These guys should feel fortunate. I've given blood about four times and I wish Hoxworth would quit calling me.
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