h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The only place I have given blood was Malawi - slap in the middle of a malarial area. I suppose any blood was better than none

It makes me *VERY MAD CRAZY ANGRY* that I can't give blood... I have *always* had safe sex until I was in a longterm (hopefully longest-term) relationship, when it is "safe" because we got tested in the right period and only have sex with each other. So, for the BTS to assume that my blood is more likely to be infected with STDs... I think that many gay men are actually MORE aware of safer sex than some straight people... I have often discussed condoms with straight friends/colleagues and they are more often seen as contraceptives rather than disease protection, so surely that lack of discipline means that their blood is more likely to be infected...

*GGGGGGRRRRRR!!!!*

Phew, small rant over (for now)...

Maybe I need to go and eat something...

I suppose you're going to say they don't want my organs either, because they've been exposed to too much ABBA in their time...

Af (outraged and cross and stuff)

Hi all,

I gave blood yesterday and they also took some to be typed for being a bone marrow donor. (Big pat on the back)

Afrael:
If you are sure that your blood is safe and you really want to give, there is a way to do it. LIE on the questionnaire. Yes it is wrong to have to lie to help someone, but that's the way it is. I have found that while no individual wound stop you for giving and helping, its the institution/organization/government that prevents you from helping (or the food from getting to the hungry, the sick from getting the medical treatment they need, ......... ) (But that is a topic drift and could be its on thread) So work around the road blocks they put in front of you and good luck.

Mostly Harmless

Sound advice...yet I still object to the blatant homophobia being allowed to exist...

*gets off soapbox*

Afrael (quite fluffy really)

(speaking as one, or at least half that way) straight people are definately less aware. There's still shocking ignorance, about AIDS and all the other nasty things. Besides, there are many organisations for the gay community which make a huge effort to provide information and advice etc, which don't really exist outside of it. As well as the pressure of society.
(Incidentally, would they need to know if you were involved in any non-traditional practices that could pose a risk, i.e water-sports (not the canoe kind, that is) or anything that draws blood?)

I think here in Denmark the ratio is more straight people have AIDS now. And what you´re saying is probably based just on prejudices, even though it is sad to find it on a blood bank. You could hope those people would be rather well informed. But with something like barebacking parties, I guess the ratio might change.

Does it really matter though? Please tell me that they screen all the blood before using it.

Mandragora: Forgive me my ignorance, but what does lesbians use as disease prevention? I´ve heard something about plast-film but don´t know if it´s true.

The ratio seems to be more straight people infected in most places- think of the problems in Third World countries etc.
Disease prevention (although I'm not a lesbian, BTW )- for oral sex, you can use a latex mouth thing which works the same as a condom. These are also used in straight relationships. With most other diseases, you get some kind of visual indication that there's something up, and leave well alone. And I'd get to know someone very well first, so you can trust them to tell you if they've got something nasty. This is how me and my boyfriend go about it, anyway.