Earlier this week, the Student Welfare Commission hosted a
two-day blood drive in an effort to assist with the national blood
shortage. These blood drives would be even more effective if all
people with healthy blood were able to donate.
This, however, is not the case. There is currently a Food and
Drug Administration policy prohibiting blood donation by any male
who has either had sex with a male at least once since 1977 or had
sex with anyone who has been sexually involved with an individual
engaging in male homosexual acts (within 12 months of attempting to
donate), because it is seen as a high-risk activity in the
transmission of HIV.
Dickinson College’s Spectrum student group started the
Fight to Give Life campaign April 5 to put a stop to this bigoted
and obsolete policy. Through the distribution of blue ribbons and
an anti-discrimination petition, this campaign is intended to
mobilize students to effect positive social change.
March 9, the American Red Cross, the American Association of
Blood Banks and the American Blood Centers denounced the
FDA’s policy. The FDA, however, must hear from the people who
are directly affected.
“It is important to have groups throughout the country
taking a stance against this policy, because it is a prime example
of institutional discrimination against the gay community and
results in qualified donors being rejected for no other reason than
a false fear,” said Shawn Werner, president of Fight to Give
Life in a press release.
“People need to be aware that all blood has the risk of
being infected, not just that of gay men, and the current policies
of the FDA are outdated and reinforce homophobia and heterosexism
in our society,” Werner added.
The policy, established during the height of the AIDS epidemic,
was designed to prevent contamination to the blood supply. But with
increasing knowledge of the transmission of HIV and preventative
education, this policy is no longer applicable as it is based on a
false stigma that all gay males are at a high risk for contracting
HIV/AIDS.
The virus can affect anyone; therefore, it is blatantly
discriminatory to deny the right of a group of people to give blood
and help save lives merely because of their sexual practices.
Among other issues facing the gay community in achieving social
equality, this issue once again highlights the discrimination of
the federal government against the progress of gay rights in the
U.S. It is important for the general public to be educated on these
issues that are not often addressed on a large national scale.
The FDA’s policy perpetuates the stereotype of the
“promiscuous gay male” which hinders the advancement of
the gay community in more than one way. Homosexuals should have
equal rights in all aspects of everyday life without obstruction
from the federal government. Students must become educated on this
issue in order to empower themselves and take a stand to stop
social injustices.
Iniguez is the director for the Black Latino AIDS Project
and Saucedo is the general representative for the Queer
Alliance.