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Question for our gay members

This is sooo freaking odd... why would military service DQ you?

it's not the military service, it is where the military service occured. there are quite a few locales that will get you put on the "no donor" list.
 
This is sooo freaking odd... why would military service DQ you?

The Red Cross (I assume with scientific research backing) determined that exposure to certain chemicals, cultures, locales, and environments were permanent and put the blood supply at risk...same as male homosexuality, intravenous drug use, and other categories. it DOESNT disqualify you from donating plasma. It DOES disqualify you from being an organ donor (though I have suggested they create a 'high risk donor' category and let people choose)
 
it's not the military service, it is where the military service occured. there are quite a few locales that will get you put on the "no donor" list.



I wonder if I am on a list I don't know about.



this is what I found. Am I missing something?


Starting in the late 70s Blood banks in the United States and some other countries began turning away Blood donors. Following below are the major reasons given for exclusion, most still in force in Blood banks, Blood donor clinics and hospitals, today:

Excluders to giving Blood in the 1980s:
Cancer AIDS Symptoms Hypodermic drug use Men having had sexual contact of any kind with another man or men since 1977.

Excluders to donating Blood in the 1990s in addition to the above:
Anyone who has had hepatitis since his or her 11th birthday Anyone who has taken pituitary growth hormone in any quantity.

Excluders to giving Blood in 2000 to the present, in addition to all of the above:
Anyone who has taken Tegison for psoriasis Anyone currently with drugs for an enlarged prostate in their system Anyone who spent three months or more in the United Kingdom from 1980 through 1986 Anyone who has received Bolld by transfusion in the United Kingdom or France from 1980 through the present Anyone who has spent five years in Europe from 1980 through the present time.
 
it's not the military service, it is where the military service occured. there are quite a few locales that will get you put on the "no donor" list.

Yep. boyfriend can't donate because he's been in Iraq and Korea in the past 4 years. I can't donate because I had Hep A in 1998.
 
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They also put you on the deferred list for a year after getting tattooed.
 
I don't see anything there specific about iraq veterans. Am I missing it?

The Armed Services Blood Program has ordered Department of Defense blood banks to defer blood donations from all military personnel who were stationed in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen at any time since August 1, 1990. This action was taken in response to a small number of diagnosed cases of leishmania infection -- a tropical disease -- among military personnel returning from that area"

I think it mostly impacted GW1, not GW2 and it was more likely for service in Saudi Arabia, not Iraq (although exposure to low yield waste from expended ordinances for people in other areas of the region is also a problem).

I dont think the Red Cross site specifically mentions Anthrax...not sure about GW service (1 or 2). Or traipsing through certain jungle regions or arid climates on the dark continent. All I know is that I was notified "thanks but no thanks" indefinitely...although the plasma option is still available. Who knows...maybe the times and policies have changed. I'll have to make a phone call...
 
The Armed Services Blood Program has ordered Department of Defense blood banks to defer blood donations from all military personnel who were stationed in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen at any time since August 1, 1990. This action was taken in response to a small number of diagnosed cases of leishmania infection -- a tropical disease -- among military personnel returning from that area"

I think it mostly impacted GW1, not GW2 and it was more likely for service in Saudi Arabia, not Iraq (although exposure to low yield waste from expended ordinances for people in other areas of the region is also a problem).

I dont think the Red Cross site specifically mentions Anthrax...not sure about GW service (1 or 2). Or traipsing through certain jungle regions or arid climates on the dark continent. All I know is that I was notified "thanks but no thanks" indefinitely...although the plasma option is still available. Who knows...maybe the times and policies have changed. I'll have to make a phone call...



I think it changed. I didn't start donating blood and plasma until right after sept. 11 2001. I wasn't made aware of any restrictions like that.


ASBP: Can I Donate? - General guidelines and restrictions


Iraq, Afghanistan and other malaria-endemic areas, less than 5 consecutive years 12 months deferral upon return

Iraq, Afghanistan and other malaria-endemic areas, more than 5 consecutive years 3 years deferral upon return

England from January 1980 - December 1996 for greater than 3 months (cumulative) Deferred from donating indefinitely

Europe from January 1980 - December 1996 for greater than 6 months (cumulative) Deferred from donating indefinitely

Europe from January 1980 – present for greater than 5 years (cumulative) Deferred from donating indefinitely

North of Seoul, Korea (the 37.7 parallel) for less than 5 years (cumulative) Deferred for 2 years following return

North of Seoul, Korea (the 37.7 parallel) for more than 5 years (cumulative) Deferred for 3 years following return

Kuwait There is no deferral for this travel

Qatar There is no deferral for this travel
 
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I think it changed. I didn't start donating blood and plasma until right after sept. 11 2001. I wasn't made aware of any restrictions like that.


ASBP: Can I Donate? - General guidelines and restrictions


Iraq, Afghanistan and other malaria-endemic areas, less than 5 consecutive years 12 months deferral upon return

Iraq, Afghanistan and other malaria-endemic areas, more than 5 consecutive years 3 years deferral upon return

England from January 1980 - December 1996 for greater than 3 months (cumulative) Deferred from donating indefinitely

Europe from January 1980 - December 1996 for greater than 6 months (cumulative) Deferred from donating indefinitely

Europe from January 1980 – present for greater than 5 years (cumulative) Deferred from donating indefinitely

North of Seoul, Korea (the 37.7 parallel) for less than 5 years (cumulative) Deferred for 2 years following return

North of Seoul, Korea (the 37.7 parallel) for more than 5 years (cumulative) Deferred for 3 years following return

Kuwait There is no deferral for this travel

Qatar There is no deferral for this travel

Still disqualified...

Funny...you can be disqualified for living in the UK because of the suspicion of lurking or dormant prions...but I would be far more concerned about just eating vegetables grown in the UK...
 
Moderator's Warning:
Interesting derail, but probably time to get this thread back on track. Thank you :)
 
I am not gay, but something I have been told by gays is that many of them view military service as a way to acceptance by society.
In our conservative society, those who are different have a rough path.
I think we are becoming more tolerant, but this is not the same as "acceptance"..
I, for one, have been tolerant for a long time, but , I must, admit, I'd be uncomfortable working next to an "openly" homosexual individual..
But we do live in a democracy.....70% in our military have no problem (or so they say)....We should do as the 70% desire and "get over it".
 
War fighters have to think, to increase their chances of survival on the battlefield.
It was not my intention to imply that soldiers are stupid in any way, so I'll take that back.
 
So you don't donate now to those fighting on the front lines because you disagree with the administrations policy?
No, I do not donate blood because I am prohibited from doing so because of my sexual orientation. It was a tangential point.

But it seems this has been working out already. :)
 
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No, I do not donate blood because I am prohibited from doing so because of my sexual orientation. It was a tangential point.

But it seems this has been working out already. :)




yeah we hashed it out... then redress came in and spoiled our fun. :2razz:
 
In one of the myriad DADT threads I made the following comment:

"seems the ones that are most vocal about getting "the right to serve" are those least likely to want to serve."

my question is:

how many of you would join the military if DADT were repealled tomorrow. (assume for the sake of arguement that you are physically able and between the ages of 17 and 42)

dont know where you get this, probably unsupported' opinion from "seems the ones that are most vocal about getting "the right to serve" are those least likely to want to serve."

and Im not gay but Ill answer because of the TWO examples that I know of involving 2 gays and military.

1.) a male friend of mine who is gay really wanted to be a marine, wanted it very badly, wanted to do good and be an enemy of evil and all that stuff. Was actually way over the top with it, taking grabling and jusitsu or how ever its spelled, weapons classes etc. He even did the school/Army program back in the day but never enlisted because he was scared to death to get found out because he was open. He is now a state trooper and is still a enemy of evil but its not the same for him.

2.) A female friend of mine that is gay was enlisted in the reserves, not sure how it works but she did some time and got out. She didnt want to and the pressure is different for women not the same but she still feared being found out. She still does goverment work, works at the pentagon but isnt enlisted because of fear.

So in my two examples I know envolving gays and military it ad a VERY direct impact. I know other gays that wouldnt serve one way or another but still fight for their right to and RIGHTFULLY so because discrimination is still wrong and rights arent to be taking lightly simply because they wont be practiced that logic is plain stupid.

People fight for gun rights and free speech all the time that dont WANT guns or WANT to voice thier all their opinions all the time

so I wont assume I know what you are getting at but ill say this factual statement, whether its one more gay, 10,000 gays or zero gays that are affected its MEANINGLESS to the argument. Shouldnt deny people equal rights.
 
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