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 :) )

How dare you OP! Questioning transpeople is literal violence! By starting this thread, you are hereby responsible for ANY trans deaths today!

Is it really that bad a question though? Surely blood donation being dependant on biology is, well, obvious?

I know there are a few gay men I have spoken to here, I hoped one might share their opinion. I can't ask friends as I honestly don't know if I'd get the "omg, TERF!!!" reaction. :(

Ha, seems me and Andie were thinking about blood donation around the same time (I honestly - cross my heart - didn't see this til after I posted here)

andiepasdedeux.wordpress.com/2017/04/09/giving-blood-as-a-non-binary-transgender-person/

God I'd forgotten all about Andie

Hope you don't mind but I x-posted the FOI to the gender critical reference thread.

These guidelines make no sense.

A female person who identifies as a man could be prevented from giving blood because they do not have male levels of haemoglobin.

A male person who identifies as a woman could give blood when their haemoglobin is lower than a male person's should be and could therefore be risking their health.

Male people who have sex with male people are suddenly and miraculously not at a higher risk of infection if one of them identifies as a woman.

No problem at all, pencils :)

Sexual orientation and gender expression has nothing to do with each other. Some MTF trans persons are attracted to men, others to women. Some are as dual, or choose not to get involved. It's sexual behavior that determines risk of transmitting venerial diseases.

Who are you replying to, Erica?

The homosexual rule is rubbish though. Transfusion clinics or hospitals should include a full STD panel as part of screening process for everybody.

HIV can take a few weeks to show up. 52 is a bit over-cautious though!!

(Whilst still being contagious)

I cant give blood as I have sex with a guy who's also having casual sex with men (using protection), there is a lot of casual sex in the MSM (men who have sex with men) scene, with things like gay cruising spots, grindr hook ups and gay saunas (not actually for sauna-ing), plus the high risk nature of anal sex. I totally get the rule.
If a male to trans person had sex with with a man who had sex with men, they wouldn't be able to give blood until 12 months after they had sex with that man.
For men it's wait 12 months after sex with a man.
For women it's wait 12 months after sex with a man who has EVER had sex with a man.
The trans person would probably be unable to give blood.

I presume these rules are about risk of being HIV+. I presume it's quite important that HIV+ blood is not used for transfusions, so surely the health service is not just relying on the assumption that straight people are less likely to be + than gay people? Isn't the blood tested? In which case, why do there need to be these orientation-based rules in the first place? Seems completely regressive to me.

Hepatitis B can take 12 months to be detectable OP.

The rule stop HIV, and hepatitis getting into the donor system. There is a big problem with hepatitis amongst men who have sex with men and my sexual health clinic vaccinate MSM against it. I was vaccinated for my nurse training, the Dr at the clinic offered to vaccinate me again based on my sexual partners activity and checked my antibodies to see if I needed it.
The rules also cover things like IV drug use, and prostitution, which are also higher risk for HIV / HEP.
The blood is tested but realistically they have to make a call on the high risk situations, and if MSM are a high risk group for hepatitis which can take 12 months to show on tests then they need to have that exclusion period.

Another important thing to remember is that people who receive blood products are probably very sick already. It's their health the rules are trying to protect.

Thanks gin - that fact seems to have fallen out of my brain, I definitely knew it!!

The rukes for women include not giving blood for twelve months after having sex with "a man who has ever had oral or anal sex with another man, even if they used a condom or other protective"

How on earth would anyone know this? Its not really a conversation I have ever had with anyone tbh :/

Some women might know it. I have talked to some partners about past partners. OTOH I understand lots of people don't.
Part of the issue with these kinds of rules is they have to be understandable to the HCP and donors who follow them.

Who says the MTT person's boyfriend has sex with men? Maybe he only has sex with transwomen. Neither would be considered part of a high risk group according to these guidelines.

What if the transwoman only has sex with other transwomen? I imagine lesbians are considered a low risk group.

Not sure how I feel about the whole concept of these rules (aside from the total nonsense the trans guidelines make of them) They do seem to be a bit of a blunt instrument and they do discriminate against gay men and people from Africa.

Then again, I knew someone who died from AIDS from infected blood products, so until screening methods improve (if that will ever be possible with such long incubation periods) I think whatever safeguards we have should be kept in place and not made a mockery of. Feelings are all well and good but if you're donating blood it isn't about you, or at least it shouldn't be.

What if the transwoman only has sex with other transwomen?
With all respect, that would still be males having sex with males. In context of blood, HIV risk and such.

If a transwoman is straight (or gay?!) and only has sex with females then I would guess low risk.

Not as far as the guidelines are concerned, wanking. Sensible as it may seem to people who have a brain.

Exactly Wanking, but according to these guidelines, that would be lesbian sex and so low risk.

Thats absolutely crazy. Sex (not bloody gender) is important in many areas of life, especially medical areas and should not be removed from records.

Why are we assuming that all trans women are having sex with men or other trans women?

I don't think anybody said that, Welsh?!