Hey everyone. I was having a pretty good day until this afternoon. I got an email from a teacher encouraging us to go give blood,so I really wanted to help out cuz Memphis is low on blood. So, I headed over to the place where you give blood and was really happy and everyone was so nice. Well,I filled out some stuff...and I had to read something. Well..I was reading when I came across the part "You cannot give blood if you are a male and have had sex with another male after 1977." I was a little confused so when the women brought me into the room to give blood I asked her about it. She said that it was FDA policy...and I asked if that meant my whole life,...she said yes. I can't believe it...but I broke down crying there. I asked why,and she said she really didn't understand herself...but that they had to go by FDA regulations there. I was so upset. She put my number down and told me she will have the FDA call me and explain...but she said they probably won't have a good explanation. This is the second time in my life that I actually felt discriminated against. The first being that I cannot marry. I am so upset right now and feel so embarrassed because I did not know about that policy when I went to give blood. I just wanted to help people and it has been over a year since I had sex,and that as my only time. It's not fair...and I am going to try to do something if I can. I don't know what yet...but something. Well, I have homework to do. Night everyone...
I'm so sorry, Thomas! That must have been very hard. But you tried and that's about all you can do. I knew someone (many years ago) who gave blood (straight man, father of 3), and found out later that the person that got his blood, along with the blood of sereral others, ended up with AIDS. That was before all the testing they do now. Anyway, because the recipient got AIDS, and they didn't know who/where it came from, my friend has never been allowed to give blood again.
I had a long busy day. I had an attitude adjustment yesterday about one of my co-workers, so I've been trying extra hard to be the peace maker of the office. That's very hard work!!!
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Grace is the acceptance of that which is rejected. ~Paul Tillich
