Red Cross is causing some controversy again about their doner rules. In Australia, electronics technician Michael Cain, 21, was rejected as a donor in October 2004, after replying "yes" in the Red Cross questionnaire to whether he had had gay sex in the past 12 months. Gay Activists of course did not like this and were mad with how Red Cross Responded. Red Cross believe that gay men bring infection and death to the community and this is why there is a ban on their blood. HOW RUDE!
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, described the Red Cross opening statement in defence of the current ban as a "statistical diatribe against gay men."
"The Red Cross cited statistics about rates of HIV and other infections in the gay community which were misleading because the infections in question arise from unsafe sex, not gay sex, and because almost all these infections are increasing dramatically in other groups which aren't banned from blood donation," Mr Croome said.
"It was particularly offensive and unprofessional for the Red Cross to assert that "monogamy is a myth" in regard to men who have sex with men."
Cain's solicitor, Peter Tree, highlighted the fact that risk of HIV infection is based on safety of sexual activity, not gender of sexual partner.
Mr Tree said it was "illogical and medically flawed" to ban all sexually-active gay men from donating blood.
"The appropriate screen ought be based on unsafe sexual activity."
Mr Tree also highlighted statistics showing the failure of the current screening process to eliminate all HIV positive blood donations, especially from heterosexual donors. [SOURCE]
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