Gay and bisexual men are prohibted, by law, from giving blood. This policy was instituted in the 1980s, at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, due to the higher rates of infection among gay and bisexual men. This policy serves no purpose now, because all blood is tested for disease before it is sent to hospitals and other medical organizations, making this policy not only discriminatory, but redundant.
Some say the higher rates of HIV/AIDS infection among gay and bisexual men justifies the continuation of this policy, ignoring that all blood is testing. The rate of HIV/AIDS infection is higher among, for example, minorities. If a policy banning all non-whites from donating blood was put into place, there would be outrage, and rightfully so. Where's the outrage over this homophobic policy?
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