Seattle Residents
Criticize Exclusive Blood Donor Policies

Prospective blood donors are accusing blood banks in the Seattle area of discriminatory regulations that bar most gay and bisexual men from giving blood, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Tuesday.

After the Puget Sound Blood Center announced last week that western Washington's blood reserves were at emergency levels, some residents voiced frustration at policies that turn away about 6% of those who volunteer to donate blood. About 24,000 people have been placed on the region's permanent deferral list based on answers to screening questions, according to the center, and men who have had sexual contact with another man since 1977 are automatically rejected.

"It upsets me when I see signs that say 'We need blood, give now' but they don't want my blood," Pete, a 26-year-old office manager, told the Post-Intelligencer. He was added to the deferral list three years ago for having sex with a man one time.

The Food and Drug Administration drafts the screening questions and requires that blood centers maintain deferral lists. It imposes the restriction to protect the national blood supply from HIV.

Critics argue the policy is flawed.

"Given modern testing and the fact that anyone can be vulnerable to infection, there is no medical or scientific rationale for this discriminatory policy," Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, told the Post-Intelligencer. (The Advocate)