As they mourn friends and partners murdered in the gay nightclub massacre, homosexual men in Orlando are eager to join in the rush of solidarity by donating blood for those victims still clinging to life.
But they are angry and frustrated: federal law imposes strict conditions to guard against HIV transmission. Gay men can only give if they have not had sex with another man for a year.
So while they say it is a relief to see many others lining up outside blood banks in suffocating heat for hours to donate in the wake of the attack that killed 49 and left 53 wounded — and the response has been described as overwhelming — gay men are forced to sit by and watch.
“I am married. I am gay and sexually active with my husband, of course. But I am ineligible to donate blood,” said Rob Domenico, a board member and chief fundraiser at The Center, Orlando’s main LGTB community center.
“So at a time when I am needed the most to help save my brothers and sisters, I can do nothing. So it is very frustrating,” he said at the center’s small, jam-packed headquarters, which has operated in crisis mode since the massacre in the wee hours of Sunday at the Pulse nightclub by gunman Omar Mateen.
The Center teemed with activity Monday as volunteers arranged appointments for people who need counseling after the carnage and took delivery of supplies — food, drink, even toiletries — for victims’ families.
A charity group brought in golden retrievers to serve as comfort dogs for people to pet. This therapeutic technique was also used after the Newtown school shooting in Connecticut in 2012, which left 26 dead, most of them small kids.
Outside The Center, Chris Callen, 34, said he knew Pulse very well — he worked there performing as a drag queen.
And his loss of friends in the attack was huge.
“I lost a total of seven — and I actually just found out I lost one more, on the phone,” he said, gesturing to his mobile and wincing.
Morning Met. I think it was yesterday we were discussing the same matter. The FDA seh man to man shit, batty, penis pon penis blood isn’t good. Maybe fecal matter mixed with high levels of testosterone and sperm contaminates the blood and it takes a year for the body to clean itself
Well they are at risk and stands at the forefront of those infected, it is a precaunary measure that needs to stay in place. The gay community is known for their promiscuity so they should not fault authority from preventing the spread of a deadly disease, that would be like murder all over again.
Exactly
Makes you think .. .. Also in the prison system you have to booked as the gender stated on your birth certificate …. If u r transgender it means nothing
Certain states, New York included, recognize Transgender rights and have Birth Certificate and Death Certificate amendments. This means, a transgender male to female would serve time in a female penitentiary.
Oh well!
Meow!
This just shows that scientists and doctors are against that nasty lifestyle despite the fact that the Politically correct citizens and Batty enabler Obama embraces and encourages it. Homosexuality is not only immoral, it is also detrimental to general health.
Met
I have a new found respect for your blogging sleuths they called out the gunman as gay and now Dailymail.co.uk claims there is mounting evidence to the effect.