The American Red Cross says power outages created by recent storms in
the East and Midwest cut blood donations, which were already low this
summer. In June there was a nationwide shortfall, with donations down
more than 10% across the country.
"We are asking people to please
call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit us at redcrossblood.org to find a way to
donate if they can," said Stephanie Millian, Red Cross director of
biomedical communications. "We need people's help."
One group
that would like to help, but legally can't, may be moving one step
closer to eligibility. Since the 1980s, when the AIDS epidemic decimated
their community, gay men -- or MSMs (men who have sex with men) as they
are called by federal agencies -- have not been allowed to donate
blood. In June, a group of 64 U.S. legislators led by Rep. Mike Quigley,
D-Illinois, and Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, sent a letter to the
Department of Health and Human Services encouraging it to move forward
with a study that may lead to the end of the decades-old ban.
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
7 comments:
i've always thought this was crazy. i mean, everyone should be allowed to donate. shouldn't they be testing all the blood anyway? a friend of mine was born in italy (her dad was military & stationed there at the time) and SHE can't donate because she wasn't born in the USA. WTF?
as i said before, this is because the FDA KNOWS that homosexuality is a disease.
damn liberals.
Heard that 2:43!
Stop supporting the vampires
I donate regularly but i can tell you one thing. If i need blood sometime, i definitely don't want gay blood. If they are gonna let them donate, only give fruit blood to the fruitcakes.
I love giving blood. It makes me feel new again.
I've never been so sick in my life as when I gave blood.Everyone had told me how great I would feel afterwards.This was not a psychological issue.I was sick as a dog for 2 or 3 days.I've been leary of donating every since.
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