Since the Orlando terrorist attack, thousands of Americans have donated blood to help the injured. Members of the gay community lament being excluded from the donation.
Double penalty for homosexuals. After the Orlando massacre in a gay nightclub, which left 49 dead and 53 injured on the night of June 11 to 12, the American population is mobilizing to donate blood. Since Sunday, thousands of people have flocked to the doors of the centers to provide support to the victims.
Homosexuals are particularly likely to want to donate blood, but the law restricts this possibility. Many testimonies denouncing an overly strict legal framework are circulating on social networks.
Since 2015, US law has allowed homosexuals to donate blood, but only if they abstain from all sexual intercourse for an entire year. A rule that only applies to men who have a long-term monogamous relationship. Turned away from donation centers, many of them express their anger and dismay, denouncing discriminatory legislation. “Heterosexuals who have had unprotected sex with multiple partners have the right to give at their convenience. […] While their friends perish from gunshot wounds, homosexuals in Orlando are now condemned to do nothing except watch, disarmed, ”denounces the American journalist Mark Joseph Stern in an article on the site Slate.
“The world has no meaning”
Since last Sunday, photos and videos showing thousands of American citizens lining up in front of donation centers have flooded the web. But the gay community feels helpless and shares their anger on social media. Because many of them are unable to donate blood. In addition, as the LGBT foundation reminds us, on the night of Saturday to Sunday, “it is the gay community that has been struck in the heart, it is she who has been targeted”.
” It’s legal to buy an AR-15 rifle. But it is illegal for a gay man to donate blood to help victims of the massacre. The world makes no sense. », Wrote a lawyer on his twitter account.
It’s legal to buy an AR-15 assault rifle. It’s illegal for a gay man to donate blood to victims of the massacre. The world makes no sense.
– John Barcus (@johnrtworld) June 12, 2016
Singer Ricky Martin did not hesitate to denounce US legislation either. ” Desperate Orlando hospitals need blood. But as a gay man I can’t donate my blood “He writes
Hospitals in #Orlando in desperate need of blood to save victims of the attack but as a gay man I can’t donate. #FDAlifttheBLOODbanNOW
– Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) June 13, 2016
” The only thing I will add, in the face of Orlando’s saddest tragedy: It is even more tragic and sad that gay men cannot donate blood », Also deplores Slade Sohmer, journalist for Mic.
Only thing I’d add to saddest tragedy in Orlando: It’s made even more tragic and sad that gay men are prohibited from donating blood to help
– Slade Sohmer (@Slade) June 12, 2011
In terms of blood donations for homosexuals, France has adopted a system similar to that of the United States. It will be applicable from July 1, 2016.
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