FDA Ban on Gays Donating Blood: Parent Complains, School District Grins and Bears It

By Stefan Kamph Fri., May 6 2011 at 8:21 AM

Flickr: BWJones

If you've ever donated blood, you've probably noticed a prominent question on a pre-donation questionnaire: Have you had intercourse with someone of the same sex since 1977? If so, yer outta luck, pal.

The law, which has been repeatedly challenged and upheld since its imposition in 1985, is purportedly to eliminate the risk of transferring HIV. However, straight folks who have had sex with an HIV-infected partner need only wait a year before legally donating blood.

Local parent Pete O'Neil, who is raising two children with his partner, said he was considering legal action against the Broward School Board after he had to explain to his 12-year-old daughter that he wasn't allowed to donate blood "because the government thinks my blood is dirty."

O'Neil says the school was offering prizes to children who recruited their parents to donate blood, and he had to break the disappointing news to his daughter, who has Asperger's syndrome.

He wrote a letter to Superintendent Jim Notter explaining his position and got a response from Director of Athletics and Activities Damian Huttehhoff. It was surprisingly candid:

Dear Mr. O'Neil;

This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter to the Superinendent of Schools regarding the blood ban policy by the FDA.

The FDA has a specific position on blood donation from men who have sex with other men. Please be advised that the School Board of Broward County does not endorse the FDA's position. However, all blood donors are required to complete a blood donor history and questionnaire. The questionnaire is developed by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The FDA is responsible for ensuring the safety of the nation's blood supply. The blood safety system established by the FDA is dependent upon honesty and integrity by the donor. To this end we applaud your action of honesty. The issue presented in your letter is of concern to the designated school system blood donor, Community Blood Centers of South Florida. The blood center opposes the FDA ban and has repeatedly lobbied the federal government to eliminate the question. Unfortunately, the universal donor questionnaire must remain in use until modified or changed by the FDA.

If I can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me at 954-321-2550.

Sincerely,

Damian Huttehhoff
Director of Athletics and Activities
11-454

"I really felt they understood what happened and it was legitimate concern on their part, not just some hack sending a letter to shut me up," says O'Neil. He says he no longer intends to sue the school district but will side with collection organizations in encouraging the FDA to change its rules.

O'Neil never showed up and tried to donate blood, so he wasn't turned away. He says some of his gay friends will donate and lie on the form about their sexual activities but says, "I'm not going to play that game. Blood is so important."

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Tags:

blood donation, Broward schools, FDA

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SMDrPepper

Nice to know that the FDA is backing something that has no science behind it. Whats the point of this anyway? Do they not know that us straights can get HIV just as easily as gays? How the hell do they explain Africa?

If there is always a shortage of blood donors, should they not do away with this silliness?

TomPaine

What politically correct nonsense. There is plenty of science behind restrictions on gay men donating blood. Over half (53%) of new AIDS infections are reported by the CDC to be gay men. There is debate over the real ratio of homosexuals in the total population, but the reasonable rates range between 2% and 10%. That means gay men are between 10 and 50 TIMES as likely to contract AIDS as a straight man.

As for Africa, it can't be compared to the United States for two key reasons - female circumcision and common sex practices. The barbaric practice of female circumcision is rampant in Africa and leaves women far more likely to contract (and pass on) AIDS via straight sex. In addition, other African sex practices make exchanges of blood much more likely.

Think about it... how many straight men do you know with AIDS?

Only a self-serving activist would want to endanger the nation's blood supply to "prove" he isn't a risk when the statistics clearly show otherwise. Twisting a school blood drive to use his young daughter to gain an angle and sympathy is just pathetic.

SMDrPepper

Actually I know of a few. The whole gay=AIDS has been disproved a LONG time ago. Seriously, how would a disease ONLY target a very specific group like that? It does not make any sense and it spreads just as much through straights as well as the homosexuals.