End discrimination against blood donors in Canada!

To whom it may concern:

I am a young professional male living in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and would like to share a little of my frustration with you. Read on, this is sure to be of interest to you.

A dear relative of mine recently passed away from a rare form of Leukemia. This blood disease has caused a considerable upset to those I love. In fact, it took away one of those I loved. I am writing as I would like to bring awareness to the fact that we all must take action to a cause which is meaningful to us if we are to bring about radical change and positive outcomes for our society.

I have chosen to hone in specifically on a particular event which occurred recently during my effort to help and support those who are fighting for life.

Blood and blood alone is essential for survival and so important for those needing transfusions, platelets, and the like. I am no medical expert, but have first handedly witnessed the need and demand for supply of life’s principle fluid. I am also a universal donor.

I decided to go to Canadian Blood Services to sign up and donate. I wanted to take after my phenomenal father and become a donor for life. Simply put, I was completely appalled to find out that I could not donate because I was gay and “had anal sex with a male anytime after 1977”.

I let it go, and went on with my day, but I have grown frustrated over time, and after letting that particular situation settle in. This is 2007, and there are restrictions like this in place?? You’ve got to be kidding!

While, I admit anal sex between males is “high risk” activity, it is fundamentally immoral to exclude potential donors of this life saving liquid when anal sex occurs between females and males as well. Regardless, a persons sexual activity should not be a factor as to whether an individual is able to donate to the blood bank.

In addition, don’t we have the technology to screen and ensure 100% clean and virus free blood? Or is it simply a matter of us not putting enough effort into this method of screening instead of blatant discrimination?

I’m not going to rant and rave because it is essentially pointless. What is important is that we are aware of this, and that we work to change this transgression.