California: Uproar Over Ban on Gays' Blood; Teen Tries to Donate, Fuels Debate of Policy

At a blood drive last month at Harbor High School in Santa Cruz, student body President Ronnie Childers, 17, was surprised to learn the American Red Cross (ARC) would not accept his blood donation. The reason: On his screening survey, Childers, who is openly gay, reported he had had sexual contact with other men.

"It's a lifetime mark," Childers said. "I can't ever donate blood. People don't know that this policy exists and how discouraging it is." Childers worries that other gay students may be humiliated or even "outed" when trying to donate blood. When Childers went public with his disappointment, the local news coverage generated some hate mail. For the most part, however, other students and school officials have rallied to his side.

"As a mom it tears my heart apart that so many people are so damned ignorant," said Gina Lyons, Childers' mother. "My son doesn't have HIV, and he was turned away."

Some advocates say a lifetime ban on gay blood donors is outdated, since tests can detect HIV infection earlier than tests could during the ban's early 1980s enactment. ARC, the American Association of Blood Banks and America's Blood Centers have asked FDA to re-evaluate the ban and consider revising the policy to prohibit donation within just one year after homosexual activity.

"Men who have sex with men are 60 times more likely to be HIV-infected than the general population," said Karen Riley, an FDA spokesperson. "It becomes very sensitive at a high school level when a child is turned away, but the policy is in place for the protection of the blood supply."

Back to other news for January 29, 2007