Roll up your sleeves for a Hillcrest blood drive this Saturday
The San Diego Equality Campaign (SDEC) has partnered with Stonewall Young Democrats (SYD), Dyke March San Diego and the American Red Cross to host Right to Save. The event will take place on Saturday, July 11 from 11:30am to 5pm at University Christian Church, 3900 Cleveland Avenue across from the Hillcrest Post Office. While this blood drive will operate like any standard drive sponsored by the American Red Cross, a main goal of the event will be to highlight the discriminatory Food & Drug Administration (FDA) policies that ban gay/bisexual men from donating blood, regardless of their health status.
The FDA enacted the policy, which permanently bans men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating blood, in the 1980’s when HIV was devastating the gay community. Now, over 20 years later, the policy is outdated and unequal. With modern testing procedures and increased public knowledge of HIV, a blanket ban on all MSMs is unnecessary. According to Sara Beth Brooks, chair of SDEC, “every healthy adult should the right to save up to three lives by donating a pint of blood.”
The American Red Cross is currently on record as being against this ban, but must comply with all FDA regulations. The sponsor organizations are working with the American Red Cross to highlight the arcane policy through this event. Besides blood collection, the event will also include a petition drive, balloons, face painting and a special appearance by “Buddy the Blood Drop.” Blood donation appointments are being accepted now, and are highly encouraged. Email to volunteer.
Men who have sex with men may not give blood at this event. Those who are ineligible because of this reason are asked to find an eligible female or straight male to donate on their behalf. Gay and bisexual men are encouraged to volunteer at the event to educate the public about the ban.
