At least Brett Wagner didn’t use the, “But I have lots of gay friends,” excuse in his attack on the LGBT community in Monday’s paper.
The FDA’s policy of prohibiting men who have sex with men (MSMs), however they may identify, from donating blood was implemented in the early 1980s back when, yes, homophobia was rampant. But it also was the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis, when little to nothing was known about the disease or how it was transmitted, and when it was still referred to as GRID, or gay-related immune deficiency. Back then the policy was valid, as about 90 percent of HIV transmissions were from MSMs, but more than 25 years on the transmission rates have plummeted, and this policy is way past its expiration date. The UF LGBT Concerns Committee was absolutely correct in condemning the FDA’s ban on MSMs donating blood, because it has now become a remnant of a more homophobic time. Brett, if you want to have a discussion on sexual orientation, that is a different matter, but homophobia-related arguments aside, understanding the disease and its transmission, as well as technology for detecting and treating HIV, has improved immensely. There are finger-prick tests for HIV, which take 20 minutes, that the blood bank could do easily while people wait in line and fill out their forms to donate blood. According to bloodbook.com, blood banks test every donation of blood for a variety of STDs, including HIV, no matter the sexual proclivities of the donor.
HIV is not a death sentence anymore; it is a manageable disease. New medicines and treatments are being developed as we speak, and people with HIV are living longer than ever.
In addition, perpetuating the stereotype of promiscuity among MSMs is insulting and clearly ignorant. Promiscuity has nothing to do with your sexual orientation, which anyone on a college campus should be able to determine. Risky behavior is not confined to one segment of the population, whether it is binge drinking, drug use or copious amounts of sex. Unprotected heterosexual sex is far more dangerous than protected homosexual sex, and that “specific type of sexual contact” should definitely be on the ban list.
While it is true MSMs have a high rate of infection for HIV, they are not the only ones – rates of infection for identified heterosexuals have been on the rise, according the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Actually, rates of infection for all races and sexualities are on the rise, and this is hopefully because more people are getting tested.
HIV/AIDS is not a gay disease; it is a sexually transmitted disease, and everyone is susceptible. If you have HIV, it is not because you are gay or someone you had sex with is gay. We are not in elementary school anymore; that is not the worst thing in the world. HIV can affect everyone who is sexually active, and you should always be safe while having sex.
It is your job to know your status, no matter who you have sex with or how often. Both the UF Student Health Care Center and the Alachua County Health Department offer free or inexpensive HIV testing. If anyone hasn’t gotten tested recently, or ever, they should go as soon as possible. Prevention of HIV transmission, and the eventual repeal of the blood donation ban, is possible only through education. Always have safe sex, get tested regularly and, most importantly, remember that no one is immune, for any reason.
