Thursday, July 17, 2008

We desperately need blood! Oh, but not yours.


I'm reposting this picture from Towleroad because this drives me crazy. Crazy enough that I've considered lying about my "activities" and donating. I haven't yet. Instead I cringe when I see the blood drive, as I walk on by holding onto all my pints of O neg.

These posters were plastered around Portland, ME to highlight how ridiculous this policy is.

11 comments:

mrpeenee said...

Did you see the story in the NY Times yesterday about how the Red Cross's sloppy handling of their blood bank led the FDA to take them to court and is now considering criminal charges against their directors?

Michael said...

I didn't, but it doesn't surprise me.

And, dude, when the FDA thinks you're a fuck-up, you're in really bad shape.

Moominmama said...

What??? SURELY the Red Cross didn't actually put up posters saying "no faggots allowed," did they?

freakgirl said...

It's satire -- the Red Cross doesn't allow gay men to donate blood.

http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=2008071622044214

Michael said...

No, no, but that IS actually their policy, CB. If you've had any sex with another man since 1978 (?), they don't want your blood. Period.

keith said...

That's awesome. I've been holding onto that resentment against the Red Cross for almost 20 years.

jason said...

argh.
The last time I donated blood was in the wake of 9/11 and I had to lie about being gay. It galled the hell out of me, but I did it.
My blood couldn't be more pristine, ahem


Don't even get me started on the Red Cross and its corruption and ineptitude.

Mel said...

You've got the wrong Portland, sweetie. It was over here on the Right Coast, and the donation center is not too far from where I work. Of course, it's my week off, so this is the first I've heard of it, but I love it. Discriminatory fucks.

Michael said...

Oops! Thanks.

Z said...

This is terrible! I cannot belive it! Jerks!

Anonymous said...

Unbelievable. I didn't know about that restriction. What is WRONG with people? Ugh.