A forum about gay rights at Mars Hill College last month led to an extended discussion about people’s thoughts regarding rules that can hinder gays and lesbians from giving blood.
About 30 to 35 students attended the Nov. 19 event sponsored by the Black Student Association (BSA) for a discussion on gay rights, but no one was exactly sure what to expect.
Prior to the forum in Belk Auditorium, a group of about 20 people from the Mars Hill College community individually answered questions on topics related to gay rights. Their answers were recorded on video. Their responses were shown to forum attendees to prompt discussion of issues such as blood donation, adoption of children, marriage and coming out.
Several people interviewed for the videos and some at the forum did not know gays and lesbians could be turned away from giving blood because of their sexual activity.
“Don’t see why not. Their blood’s not gay,” said student Patrick Cash on video. The group in attendance laughed then the video was paused and conversation began quickly.
The Red Cross has many guidelines for donating blood. Restrictions prevent donors if they: have ever used needles to take drugs, steroids, or anything not given by a doctor; if they are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977; if they have ever taken some form of payment for sex since 1977; or had sexual contact in the past 12 months with anyone to whom these restrictions would apply.
The Red Cross also asks that people should not give if they are born or lived in certain African states since 1977 or had sex with anyone who has been in these countries.
People also are asked not give if they have any conditions that could be signs or symptoms of HIV/AIDS. Guidelines are posted at www.redcross.org.
Millions of people across the world have died from HIV/AIDS, and millions more are living with it right now. Screening donors is used as a precaution and to prevent tainted blood from being given. Blood is tested after it is taken to check its safety before use. In America, 48% of those with AIDS were infected through male-to-male sexual contact, according to health organizations.
People interviewed for the BSA video generally indicated that if an individual’s blood has been tested and it is free from disease then that person’s sexual orientation should not prevent giving blood.
“If you’re tested, then what’s the big deal? Especially with blood shortages,” said Ryan Moulliet, a student.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 97 percent of people will develop antibodies that show up on the HIV test within three months of exposure, while in rare cases it may take as long as six months. This remains a cause for concern. The reasoning behind declining donors is that diseases can lie dormant, showing no symptoms once antibodies form.
Travis Proffitt, Lifeworks field service coordinator, led the forum discussion, which was meant to be limited to 10 minutes for each topic. The blood donor dialogue lasted nearly 20 minutes. Many students still had their hands raised when Proffitt amicably moved on.
Students Brittany Downs and Adam Wheeler commented that a questionnaire given before blood is donated could be pointless because people could lie and still give.
One student said that people should be able to do with their “blood, body, marriage or whatever exactly what they want, no matter their sexual orientation.”
“We are all people and should all have the same rights. … It shouldn’t matter because we are all humans with the same given rights,” another student said.
After the forum ended, many people continued discussions with friends and people they had just met.
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