My friend Went to gave blood, and they asked him whether he is gay?

[Charliee]

Why is this? does it effect lesbians as well as gay people?
BTW im from the UK not the USA

[wanderer]

They don't specifically ask if you are gay, if you are a male they ask if you have any same sex contact since 1977. It does not affect lesbians. It is wrong, blatant discrimination, and built on nothing but ignorance, however it persists. I pray that someday the Red Cross and other blood banks will put a stop to this injustice.

[bkbombshell2005]

because of the stereotype with HIV/AIDS and gays. its wrong but it happens

[Lisa]

It just affects gay men. they also ask questions like: have you had sex with someone from Africa in the last 2 weeks.. ect. the majority of the questions are about sex.

[?Mr. Kite?]

He could have various diseases that for some reason we seem to associate with homosexuals more than with heterosexuals.

[tinhead]

everybody who gives blood must have an blood test anyway so why does it matter if he is gay or not. I dont get it. Unless he was asked by a gay man who might of took a liking to him. now that would make sense.

[MISTANG]

It actually---as horrible as it sounds--is a safety precaution. It's an AIDS/HIV precaution, but everyones blood gets checked just the same before it is used.

[Amy]

Because there is discrimination towards gay men. Everyone assumes that all gay men have, or eventually will have, aids. This discrimination is usually (not always) towards gay men, not lesbians.

[Emo-Freak]

its just another stereotype. they assume since ur gay that u have or are going to have HIV/AIDS. i know ppl who have been rejected the right to give blood just cause of their orientation.

[interested]

that never happned to me .. what happned to me was asking if i had C virus and HIV postive .. they did not know i was a lesbian ... i think it is a very werid question ...

what did they ask straight ppl ... i wonder