Homophobia, transgenderism and giving blood.

[BeyondUser24601]

I had a thought, and it appears I'm right - though im really hoping someone tells me I am wrong!!

Rules for giving blood vary by sex and sexual orientation, as you probably know. Men who have sex with men are subject to different regulations to women who have sex with men.

Now for the dodgy bit. A transgender male who is legally a woman appears to be counted as a woman in these regulations. Even when they may have had no surgery, so are potentially having the same varieties of sex as homosexual males, with the same statistically increased biological risks. (Eg afaik the regulations for homosexual males are because there is an increased risk of STI transference in that 'group' - one that would still exist in a Mtt person who has sex with males)

So, it's not an anti trans thread before anyone complains about that, but should a Mtt person be subject to the same regulations as males or females? Or should the regulations for homosexual males be lowered in line with women so Mtt don't have to be included as males?

Or, do you think this is right as it is?

Aibu to think this appears peculiar and a tad homophobic (because once a male who has sex with men is legally considered a woman and therefore "heterosexual", they are subject to less strict regulations)

(Of course the whole thread is pointless if an NHS person can point me in the direction of different regulations to what I read :) )

Ummm no. It's the "conversion" of a high risk person (gay male) to a lower one ("straight" female) that is what makes it homophobic.

I think I'm starting to understand why you are unemployed, op

was that meant for a different thread?

No-one can't convert from a gay male to a straight female. That's just not happening.

Exactly. The actual risk is not changing, so mtt should be considered male. It's something that depends on biological sex, not the ever elusive gender identity.

I think that was meant as an insult btw, zilpha - I said I was unemployed when asked if I was a journalist...
🙄

Which is why I said I don't think they are actually taking blood from Mtts who have had sex with other Mtts as if they are female. They just couldn't take the risk. There must be up to date regulations that specify this.

Oh ok, I'm not sure what they have spotted here that suggests you should be unemployed!

I wrote and asked them about this, they basically said they just follow instructions, and gave me the name of the group that issue the guidelines. I contacted them about 6 weeks ago but no reply yet.
To my mind the risk comes from the biology not identity.

To my mind the risk comes from the biology not identity.

Exactly, which is why they should use biological terms.

From the FOI...

"Male sexual partners of transgender women would not fall under the men who have sex with men deferral policy in their assessment. Other guidance may prevent donation but this situation would not"

And

"If a donor states that they are a woman we accept that and do not enquire about their birth gender. As stated earlier in this response, donors who identify themselves as male will be assessed using the male haemoglobin levels and similarly donors identifying as female must have sufficiently high haemaglobin levels to meet the female levels"

Do haemoglobin levels differ between men and women?

Are the levels affected by the drugs that transpeople take?

Call me stupid, but I have this vague idea that PEOPLE can read guidelines and make their own decisions about whether they are in a high risk category for giving blood.

I doubt there are many stupid and selfish transgender people who have had statistically risky sex who would say "not to worry though as that's men and I'm a woman".

This thread is a cross between a magazine logic problem, a sixth form make up a debate group, and a non issue.

Drugs do affect haemoglobin concentration, yes
www.transfusionguidelines.org.uk/dsg/wb/guidelines/se005-sex-change

However that assumes that all transgender people take hormones

Because a gay man is not going to have sex with someone who identifies as a woman - they would not be a gay man if that was the case.

I think we can assume that your concern is less about homophobia and more about transgender people.

A man having sex with a transgender woman does not make him gay.

I understand fully the differences between sexuality and gender. The people who think a transgender woman and a man in a relationship is a gay male couple clearly do.

The validity of gender identity falls down it situations like this, when biology is the paramount factor.

Thanks cao. It baffles me that people can't see that biology is the relevant thing here. And that apparently includes the NHS!

Unproper, I have tried not to use the word gay. Regardless of gender identity or alleged sexuality, a male who has sex with a male is subject to the same risks as any other male who has sex with a male. It's the male-ness that is the risk, not how they feel

this started as a 'look at the awful things about transgender people!' thread, and has now u-turned into faux concern for the poor gays once it became clear that this is not a trans issue.

you need to speak up, OP. i can't hear you over the sound of your massive back-pedalling.

Didyoumeantobesorude, actually homophobia in blood regulations has been on my radar for a much longer time that transgenderism - long before the regulations changed to allow donation :)

Where am I back-pedalling?!

I don't quite understand why anyone would disagree with the op here. It isn't being gay that carries a higher risk. It is the penis-anus sex. Whatever gender the person states s/he is.

It is homophobic though, unless women who have anal sex are also prohibited?

I mentioned both homophobia and transgenderism in both my title and my OP - I haven't "u turned" and changed the subject, both subjects were valid all along.

Thanks sayno :)