2008 Woodie Awards
Discrimination in blood market
Declaring my right to give
Aaron Albro
Issue date: 2/9/07 Section: Opinion
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Throughout the course of my life I have discovered that everybody needs blood. Amazing discovery, no? I thought so. Well, given the amazing technological advances that our society has strived to accomplish, it should come as no surprise that medicine has found ways to help people who, for one reason or another, need more blood.
This country's blood banks are vitally important to modern medicine. They ensure that donated blood reaches people who need it at medical facilities around the country. This is an amazing system that deserves support from everyone. Barring certain religious sects that do not support the idea of blood transfusion, I believe everyone should support and do their best to assist the medical practitioners dedicated to this task.
This system, however, is not without its flaws. One of those flaws prevents healthy, willing donors like me from giving blood. Why? Because I sleep with boys.
The Red Cross, and by association all of its affiliates who normally run blood drives, does not allow homosexuals to give blood. Normally when an organization prevents certain members of society from participating openly in its services, it is called discrimination and is shortly followed by a slew of law suits from the ACLU.
In the Red Cross's case however, discrimination is both legal and publicly endorsed. No one seems to care that homosexuals aren't allowed to give blood.
The reason behind this form of discrimination is obvious. Gay people have AIDS. All gay people. Every single last gay person on this earth has AIDS. Actually, when you have your first gay thought, you contract AIDS. It is how we welcome each other to the club.
On the other hand, no straight people have AIDS. Well, the Africans do, but that's because they're dirty and not as advanced as we are. But in our society, being straight is like a get out of AIDS free card.
For those of you unable to detect sarcasm, please disregard the last two paragraphs and read on.
This country's blood banks are vitally important to modern medicine. They ensure that donated blood reaches people who need it at medical facilities around the country. This is an amazing system that deserves support from everyone. Barring certain religious sects that do not support the idea of blood transfusion, I believe everyone should support and do their best to assist the medical practitioners dedicated to this task.
This system, however, is not without its flaws. One of those flaws prevents healthy, willing donors like me from giving blood. Why? Because I sleep with boys.
The Red Cross, and by association all of its affiliates who normally run blood drives, does not allow homosexuals to give blood. Normally when an organization prevents certain members of society from participating openly in its services, it is called discrimination and is shortly followed by a slew of law suits from the ACLU.
In the Red Cross's case however, discrimination is both legal and publicly endorsed. No one seems to care that homosexuals aren't allowed to give blood.
The reason behind this form of discrimination is obvious. Gay people have AIDS. All gay people. Every single last gay person on this earth has AIDS. Actually, when you have your first gay thought, you contract AIDS. It is how we welcome each other to the club.
On the other hand, no straight people have AIDS. Well, the Africans do, but that's because they're dirty and not as advanced as we are. But in our society, being straight is like a get out of AIDS free card.
For those of you unable to detect sarcasm, please disregard the last two paragraphs and read on.
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