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Men with male partners banned from blood donation
Campus groups request current research on HIV transmission
By Catherine Jozwik
The campaign’s aim is not to protest blood drives for being biased against MSM, but to convince the FDA to allocate money to certain universities so they can obtain current research, as there has been no concrete research done since the 1980s, on the instances of HIV in MSM.
Federal law prohibits men who have had sexual contact with men (MSM) from donating blood, but University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee groups are encouraging those men to recruit friends to donate on their behalf.
The campaign, sponsored by UWM’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center and the Center for Volunteerism, is in response to a federal law established in the 1980s that addresses concerns about the risk of HIV infection.
After donation, letters will be sent to the Wisconsin Blood Center, The Food and Drug Administration, and the American Red Cross urging them to support their campaign advocating for further and more current research regarding the incidence of HIV in MSM.
To track progress, a copy of these letters will be sent to the Center for Volunteerism as well.
UWM is the second school to implement such a campaign; Berkeley College in California is the first. According to Adam Fermanich, Peer Outreach Counselor at UWM’s LGBT Center, the campaign wants to refrain from using the word “discriminatory,” because many other populations, including former residents of Great Britain and various South American countries, are barred from donating due to the presence of infectious pathogens in the areas.
Fermanich said that if research is conducted, and statistics still show that MSM show a considerable risk of HIV infection, they shouldn’t be allowed to donate due to health and safety considerations.
“We want this policy changed, but we want to make sure the numbers add up,” said Fermanich.
The campaign’s aim is not to protest blood drives for being biased against MSM, but to convince the FDA to allocate money to certain universities so they can obtain current research, as there has been no concrete research done since the 1980s on the instances of HIV in MSM.
Fermanich says this is not a radical effort; the centers just want the FDA to obtain research that’s less than 20 years old.
“Everyone says change the speed limit, but they don’t do that. You have to give them a reason,” said Fermanich.
Before an individual donates blood, he/she is required to fill out a medical questionnaire and meet with a doctor. Due to privacy regulations, a person must now donate individually rather than with others. According to Megan Mahoney, a marketing intern for the Center for Volunteerism, the Red Cross and the Wisconsin BloodCenter have been supportive of UWM’s campaign. Efforts have been fairly slow, but the letters sent to the office will not be mailed out until May.
The past two blood drives, which took place Sept. 19 and Nov. 22, collected 300 pints of blood, bringing the campus within reach of its goal of 1,000 pints for the year. There will be two more blood drives on campus this year on Feb. 6 and March 10.
> Comments
Anonymous on Dec 03, 2007 at 06:17 PM:
If I remember correctly, an article about this topic on how men who have had relations with other men cannot donate blood, was published in The Leader last year.
Ah yes, it was published on 10/25/2006. You can look for it on The Leader website. It's titled: "23 years later".
Old news I must say. Must be a beginning writer.
ThanksAnonymous on Dec 04, 2007 at 09:32 AM:
You're right, Anonymous. What was the Post thinking?! News media NEVER run stories about the same topic. How unprofessional!
I did look for that article on your web site...except your search isn't working!
Anonymous on Dec 04, 2007 at 10:14 PM:
Eh just isn't news worthy anymore.
Oh and if the search isn't working, you might want to tell The Leader that. It might be more worthwhile to them.
-An avid campus newspaper reader.
ThanksAnonymous on Dec 05, 2007 at 09:00 AM:
Thanks, Anonymous.
No problem on Dec 06, 2007 at 07:37 AM:
Pleasure is all mine, Catherine.
ThanksAnonymous on Dec 06, 2007 at 06:24 PM:
I'm not Catherine.
Jon on Dec 08, 2007 at 02:08 PM:
I'm sorry Anonymous, just because you have a problem with the news source does not make the story any less newsworthy. The story brings up an issue that the large part of our campus is unaware of, and one asks homosexual men to choose between being open about their sexuality and giving back to their community. I commend the Post for bringing this issue back into the forefront because it is still a very important issue for the LGBT community and the potential recipients of their blood, and is nowhere near being solved.