Gays unable to give blood seek options

Gays unable to give blood seek options

By Karen GarlochWhen the call went out for blood donors after the Sept.11 terrorist attacks, Americans responded by the thousands.

But some people felt left out when they tried to give and were rejected.

Treacy Yarborough, a Davidson businessman, was permanently deferred as a blood donor because he answered « Yes » to question No.14 on the American Red Cross questionnaire: Are you a male who has had sex, even once, with another male since 1977?

Yarborough was surprised to see that question, which he found discriminatory, since blood is now tested for HIV and other viruses before it is distributed for use.