Really? In 2009?

The state of New Jersey needs blood. Blood donations center have been popping up everywhere asking for donations. New Jersey needs blood bad! Just not THAT bad...

Dustin Weinstein is a 20-year-old sophomore at Montclair University. He wanted to help the cause and donate blood. Last November, there was a Red Cross Blood Drive at his campus and so he tried to donate blood. He was denied. Why? Because he is gay.

Here's the FDA's IR-rationale:

MEN WHO HAVE HAD SEX WITH OTHER MEN ACCOUNT FOR THE LARGEST SINGLE GROUP OF BLOOD DONORS WHO ARE FOUND HIV POSITIVE BY BLOOD-DONOR TESTING. BY ELIMINATING THAT GROUP, THE RISK OF TRANSMITTING HIV IS DIMINISHED.

Okay, that makes some sense. But it isn't any proof that all gay people are HIV positive. When you donate blood, it is tested for the HIV virus (among other viruses and diseases). So why would you turn down gays?

The rule has been in effect since the 1980s. Time for change. If I or any of my friends or family needed blood and the only blood available was a gay person, I'd gladly take it! Gay people need blood and straight people need blood, as long as its free of disease, anyone who is dieing would take it in a split second.

How do you know if a person is gay or not? Well, if you have ever donated blood, you have to answer a questionnaire. If you say that you are gay, you will, apparently, be denied. But what is to stop someone from lying on that questionnaire? It also asks if you have been to a European country in the past 6 months. If you have, you will be denied (due to mad cow disease). Again, what is preventing people from lying?

Hence, I say that everyone, gay and straight, lie on that questionnaire. Answer the questions that will best help you help the state and donate blood and save lives. F**k the FDA. [Bergen Record]