Globe & Mail Article: Health Canada Discriminating Against Gay Men Must Be Celibate For Five Years Prior To Giving Blood!!!

David Andreatta

The Globe and Mail

Published Wednesday, May. 22 2013, 10:47 AM EDT

For most Canadians, donating blood is as easy as visiting a clinic and rolling up a sleeve.

Not so for gay men, who since the mid-1980s have been banned from giving blood.

That changed Wednesday, when Health Canada approved lifting the prohibition as long as the donor has not had sexual contact with another man in at least five years. The change is expected to take effect this summer.

The policy shift may give celibate gay men eager to tap a vein reason to celebrate. But it was met mostly with derision by critics of the ban, who argued the move perpetrates an unscientific stereotype of gay men and HIV transmission and does nothing to enhance the safety of the blood supply.

“For the vast majority of people who are affected by the ban, this policy change is actually no change,” said Adam Awad, the national chairman of the Canadian Federation of Students, an organization among a coalition of groups that has advocated against the ban.

The coalition, which includes the Canadian AIDS Society, has recommended that behaviour and risk of transmission of disease be factored in to blood-donor restrictions. They argue, for example, that a straight man who has unprotected sex with multiple women is a greater threat to the sanctity of the blood supply than a gay man who has been in a long-term, monogamous relationship.

“This [new] policy assumes that if you’re a man, regardless of what protections you might take, any sexual contact with another man becomes risky,” Mr. Awad said. “We know that’s not the case.”

Canadian Blood Services, a non-profit charity that manages the blood supply in all provinces and territories outside Quebec, and Héma-Québec, which serves the same function in that province, began pushing for what they call the five-year “deferral period” for gay men in 2011.

The effort followed a 2010 Ontario Superior Court ruling that upheld the ban, but said there was insufficient evidence to support an “indefinite deferral period.”

Dana Devine, vice-president of medical, scientific and research affairs at Canadian Blood Services, cast the policy shift as “a very significant change for us.” She acknowledged, though, that the change would face resistance.

“We recognize that many people will feel that this change does not go far enough, but given the history of the blood system in Canada, we see this as a first and prudent step forward on this policy,” Dr. Devine said. “It is the right thing to do and we are committed to regular review of this policy as additional data emerge and new technologies are implemented.”

Several countries allow men to donate blood one year after having had sexual relations with another man, including Great Britain, Australia, Japan and Sweden. In South Africa, the deferral period is six months. Italy is one of a handful of countries that has no restrictions.

A blood-donor ban remains in place in the United States for men who acknowledge having had sex with another man at least once since 1977. Canada’s screening process had also set the threshold at 1977.

Dr. Devine said a five-year deferral would give the organization enough time to collect data, specifically the rate of transmissible diseases found in donated blood. The data would be used to regularly review the policy and amend it as appropriate, she said.

At the same time, she said she did not expect the change to trigger a noticeably larger pool of donors, leaving critics to wonder what substantive data could be gleaned from the new policy.

“We do not anticipate that this will bring a large number of gay men forward to the blood-donor pool,” Dr. Devine said.

Researchers at the University of California found in 2010 that if the ban in the United States were replaced by a five-year deferral, an additional 71,218 pints of blood would be donated each year.

The Canadian AIDS Society, which called the change “a good first step” that does not go far enough, was optimistic about the impact the change could have on the donor pool.

Monique Doolittle-Romas, the chief executive officer, said people who refused to donate because of the blanket ban would now reconsider.

Still, she said her group would intensify its efforts to push for a screening process based on donor behaviour rather than sexual orientation.

When a person gives blood, the donation is typically tested within 24 hours for HIV and several other infectious diseases, including hepatitis B and C, West Nile virus, syphilis and the human T-cell lymphotropic virus HTLV-I and II.

Since the 1980s, when the ban took effect, tests have become much more sensitive and accurate. The organization employs nucleic acid and antibody tests for HIV that are considered state of the art.

Of the 901,640 units of blood collected by Canadian Blood Services last year, fewer than five were found to be infected with HIV, according to the organization. A unit is the equivalent of 450 millilitres.

Fewer than 250 of the roughly 900,000 donations annually – or about 0.03 per cent – test positive for an infectious disease, according to the organization.

Hundreds of Canadians were infected with HIV and hepatitis C through blood transfusions in the 1980s before rigorous tests were implemented.

Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale Canada, a gay-rights advocacy group, said the advances in blood testing make any deferral policy antiquated.

“It’s still a discriminatory process,” Ms. Kennedy said. “They’re saying that a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity is reason enough to have a five-year deferral. It’s no different than an indefinite deferral.”

In the United States, where the Food and Drug Administration is facing growing public pressure to lift the ban, the agency insists its policy is grounded in statistics.

Men who have sex with men accounted for 61 per cent of all new HIV infections in the United States in 2010. The largest increase was found in homosexual males ages 13 to 24, the population the agency says is most likely to donate blood.

Francine Proulx-Kenzle, president of PFLAG Canada, a support group for gays and lesbians, said any deferral could be viewed as discriminatory.

But she said she is heartened by Canadian Blood Services’ openness to reviewing its policy and making adjustments.

“Sometimes going step by step is a result that is more lasting,” Ms. Proulx-Kenzle said. “You get everyone on board and you get a result that becomes part of who we are as a society.”

Is Canada The Most Boring Place on Earth? Are there Any opportunities here?

  

I’m undecided if I’m going to end this blog  right now? There is just a lot going on in my life right now I feel a bit overwhelmed at the moment. During my life on this planet I can honestly say I’ve had about two or three real friends I could confide in or talk to.  I wonder do real friends even exist? And if friendship is real does it really matter? After all  we only  have is ourselves right?  I have one “friend” right now but I realize that I should not tell him my problems or make him worry about me. He has his own life to live and he also has his own quandaries as well.

Let’s face it everyone has problems in life and I am not different then anyone else. If you’re read my book “You Don’t Know Me” or various articles I’ve written you will know the kinds of problems I’ve had. My life is far from glamorous that’s for sure.

       Right now I think I am suffering from depression? Yes, I went to the doctor and yes I’ve been on anti depressants in the past but I didn’t find it very helpful. I understand in life people “change” and you either need new experiences or they do? I can say that I’ve had plenty of “acquaintances”. Sometimes I think I “expect” too much from people or people expect “too” much from me? I’m not the kind of person that gets “emotionally” involved with “a lot of people”. Sure, I can talk to people but I definitely don’t trust people that’s sure. I don’t even trust immediate family members that’s a fact. 

Also, right now I’m questioning a lot of things in my life right now.  I have a BA degree yet I feel worthless? I don’t know what to do right now? I’ve been to career counselling, workshops, and I feel the people in these workshops or career counselling centers only care about getting paid. I find there attitudes extremely insincere but that’s just my personal opinion.

 It seems in society now one university degree isn’t enough? Should I return to school? I so don’t want to go back to school? I’m upset about a lot of things. For instance, I thought I would be more successful in life right now and I’m definitely not where I want to be. I can’t seem to find a writing job? I’ve tried everything.

 Its the dilemma of being a Canadian. Although Canada is a prosperous country Canada is in some ways  like a prison. Has anyone  ever  watched Canadian television lately? If you’ve ever watched Canadian television or paid attention to the Canadian arts you will notice how unimportant the “arts” are in this country. 

Another thing I find so “irritating” is the pretentious “snobbish” attitude of the Canadian publishing and writing industry. I cannot stress how “pretentious” it is. Also, its very small. Canada only has about thirty literary agents. Yes, I’ve bought the American Writer’s Market book and it seems that’s the way I’m going to have to go. I don’t know why some Americans think Canada is like mars or something? The thing about Canada is everything is “imported” here. The entertainment, arts sector of Canada is in dire straits and I’m serious. In Canada, all the TV shows, all the movies, are all American. Even most of the theatre plays here are “American”.

 The arts are at the bottom of the ladder in Canada. Canada is all about the status quo.  The only people that get their work published, produced, or whatever are the same people its a constant vicious cycle. I cannot remember how horrible the Toronto theatre scene is right now. My goodness, every single black theatre play is about slavery, or about some black person from the nineteenth century? Its like what about the present? As I have told you I’ve written a play and I want to get it produced. Anybody that reads my blog and knows anything about the theatre business if you have any tips let me know? Am I wasting my time entering my play into theatre competitions?

What about now? I’m tired of wasting my time here. There is nothing going on in Canada right now.  Canada is so dry I’m serious.I’m not suggesting Americans don’t have thoughts about their arts scene not being as good as it could be. My perspective is though there are so much more arts opportunities down there then here. One of the things I admire about America despite its serious social problems is the abundance of opportunities for artists. Arts is viewed as important in America there are so many arts organizations yet here in Canada there is hardly anything at all.

 The Canadian writing industry is pathetic its so small. Basically, all there is Toronto and that’s it. I feel like I was born in the wrong country. I should of left Canada years ago. Now I feel like I am trapped here as though I am suffocating. 

 I looked at the Media Bistro  website and there are numerous writing jobs but its pretty difficult for an American company to hire a Canadian given the fact America is paranoid about immigration right now. I’ve been having feelings of despair. I’m not going to harm myself or anything like that but I’ve been in a rotten mood the last couple of days.  I haven’t gone on a date in how long? I don’t even remember anymore its been a few years. I’m focusing on “helping” and “improving” myself right now. I think maybe I should end this blog? I mean does anyone really read what I have to say anyway? And do my thoughts and ideas really make a difference?