Can Gay Virgins Donate Blood?

So I recently found out that gay men are not allowed to donate blood, as we are - according to the FDA since 1983 - at high risk for HIV/AIDS.

My school has a blood drive every year, and I was wondering if I, a gay 15-year-old guy, would be able to donate. Some sources say that all gay men are banned, and some say that you're only banned if you've had sexual contact with another man.

I'm a virgin, but if I go to donate blood, how the heck would they know I'm not just lying? They would have no means to prove if I'd had sexual relations with another guy...so do they put a blanket ban on all gay guys, or do they have a way of differentiating?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

If you have a sec :-]

Yes, a virgin can donate blood.

What is FDA's policy on blood donations from men who have sex with other men (MSM)?

Men who have had sex with other men, at any time since 1977 (the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in the United States) are currently deferred as blood donors. This is because MSM are, as a group, at increased risk for HIV, hepatitis B and certain other infections that can be transmitted by transfusion.

The policy is not unique to the United States. Many European countries have recently reexamined both the science and ethics of the lifetime MSM deferral, and have retained it
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The Red Cross guidelines for age, however, state this:

To give blood for transfusion to another person, you must be healthy, be at least 17 years old or 16 years old if allowed by state law, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not have donated blood in the last 8 weeks (56 days) or a donation of double red cells in the last 16 weeks (112 days). "Healthy" means that you feel well and can perform normal activities. If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, "healthy" also means that you are being treated and the condition is under control.

EDIT (to Hammockboy1's question) - The question is whether or not you've had sex with a man since 1977. There is a long list of questions that they go through and they merely accept your answers. However, all donated blood is routinely screened for a variety of things, so if the blood is HIV+, then it is detected.

You can't donate because you are underage. You are only 15, and the Red Cross requires you to be at least 17 before you can donate.

When you fill out the forms, there is a short questionnaire that asks a bunch of questions. One of them includes "If you are male, have you ever had sex with another male, even once, since 1977?" (or something VERY similar). If you check that, you are forbidden to give blood.

They test the blood supply. The rule is pretty antiquated since now heterosexuals are just as likely to carry AIDS and Hepatitis. If you are a virgin, non drug user, you are pretty safe.

haha been there done that...

well actually ur not old enough to donate...u have to be 18...and like u said...they can't prove it but that doesnt mean they dont check it anyways. they arent going to just give the blood to any person w/o checking it.

edit...ok i was off a year...17-18...idk...but i know ur too young! lol

You have to be 18 to donate so you can't.But if you were of age and were still a virgin then yeah you could.

Only not allowed to if youve had sexual relations with a guy orally or anally..prety sure..lol

you're human too, right? wanna help, no illness? Than do it!

David S- How do they know if you are telling the truth?

I wonder...

to be honestly truthfull its bull! im sure u have to be seventeen to give blood any way but the fact of gay men have a higher risk is bull its jsut as high in any sex striaght or gay any where in teh world now adays as for that it dousnt matter the blood u give is screened any way they check for anything before putting it in for storage mylood type is very rare i was told the units in storage for my blood type thres only fifteen people in the country with my blood type so if anything happens to me im screwed cause its stored nearer london i live in scotland im a gay guy and iv been giving blood since i was 17 im now 21 and according to ma doctor as long as they have recent medical check records and tehy check my blood everytime they take it any way i should be fine to give blood they cant tell if you have had sex or not and they cant tell if your gay or not unles ur overly dramitic queen but then thats your decicion but as ma doc says they cant deny taking your blood especially if it is rare the stocks are low as low can get they cant really afford to be picky unless its disease ridden then they can say no but if its clean wither your gay or straight they cant realy deny themselves the chance to stock up on blood reserves