Yep, and to some degree I see your logic. But surely you are fighting against an antequated system by deliberatly flaunting the rules? Shouldn't people like yourself fight the system in the right way by changing it.... rather than ducking and diving these obviously outdated rules?

would love to, however sometimes the best way to change the laws is from the inside.. or to ignore them.. I ignore the laws I dont agree with...

But why are they?

Surely if there is no good reason, then why should they disadvantage themselves [or what they stand for i.e gaining as many donars as poss?]

How sure are you that there is no other reason?

It does lower the volume of potential donors. However, if the news was announced that gays could now donate blood, what do you think all those 50-60+ year olds who still believe in the stigma attached to gays would do? Half would fall over with a heart attack and the other half would start demanding an enquiry!
While we are all of an open mind, you can't change the opinions of some people and they are usually the ones that make the rules.
Personally, I would refuse all blood products, but thats cause I worked in a hospital

i can't work out why you would lie about it

god only knows...

as for other reasons.. what other reasons could there be? is gay blood different from hetrosexual blood.. what about bisexuals? its all a load of bigotted crap...

Well, I only hope you know what you are doing and this doesn't potentially put people's lives at risk. You obviously feel strongly about it. Maybe you should start a petition?

Anyways, thanks for explaining. I just hope you're right ......

Good luck in Aus BTW

read the whole thread..

I feel very strongly about this..

I am not putting any one's life a risk.. in fact I am a lot safer bet than a majority of blokes my age..

If you start a petition....write/email your MP, and let us have a copy of the document so that we can petition our MPs too.

FWIW, Im always emailing my MP, about all kinds of things...just to give him my views.

Good points sass73..... but surely this is a warped concept i.e we don't do what's right cos what's right would offend those who, by their old fashioned thinking, are wrong [did you understand that ]

Perhaps we should consider that if those in the 50-60+ age groups refuse blood or donations due to their old fashioned views, then tough shit. If they have a stigma about blood donated by gays then unfortunately their ignorance will kill them. Their choice surely And surely the Red Cross should be spending money changing these views if they are wrong?

If those who are making the rules can't change their opinions or wake up to the realities of new scientific facts, then they should be put out to roost. Jeez...if we let science stand still for fear of upsetting people who can't accept the initial thinking was wrong, then we would be still walking on the palms of our hands

[what do you do about it?

you lie...

I have a donor card, and when the time comes, I am sure the person receiving my lungs, heart (kidneys surely will have gone by then) wont give a shit if I sleep with men or come from the UK,[/QUOTE]
reply from willo arcbs employee
I wonder if you think the docs and scientists have just made up these questions just for the hell of it !!!!! I work for the red cross blood service and also lived in the uk between 1980-1996 i would no longer lie about this as i would about my sexuality, all questions asked are based on hard facts from the world health organisation, who would not dream of discriminating against an individual just for the sake of it. The australian red cross follow the same guide lines as europe as from 2002. In england I also donated blood regularly, and can understand frustrations, the only test for CJD is at post mortem!!! so australia is safeguarding its supply. All samples are tested for various viruses but each donations tests cost approx $90 per bag, so if people are honest that stupid waste of time and resources can be diminished, unless you have a real point to prove or chip on the shoulder don't do it........... I wonder if you have read declaration when you sign the form stating that penalties can occur for false or misleading info these being imprisonment or a hefty fine!!!

I quite honestly told them, I'm British, Until 3 years ago I lived in the UK, can I give blood.
An Australian told me "We don't want your foreign blood, its full of cr*p."

And people wonder why I no longer want to be an Australian......

In the UK I am sure you can give blood if you lived there from 1980-96...

I hope to god all samples are tested? Given what we have read so far, asking people not to donate..... is as much use as a chocolate teapot

You also state "if people are honest that stupid waste of time and resources can be diminished"....however if you read the thread, what people are saying is that they donate blood as they are HIV free. They are no more a risk than "straight" people who have unprotected sex.

This is what these people are saying i.e it isn't a waste of time them donating blood as they will have their blood tested alongside everyone elses and it will be clear.

Therefore how is that time wasting?