I've never given blood, since needles make me uncomfortable, but this seems like one of those things that they should not be allowed to ask in the first place.

Although I... don't really feel comfortable getting mad at people who actually save lives.

It kinda seems like it would be easier if everyone just lied. I worry that if they changed the laws, someone will pop up with HIV supposedly from a blood transfusion from a gay man, and set everything back.

I always wanted to give blood but, homosexuality aside, never had the chance to do so. I guess it might have been for the better though, since I didn't know that at the time. :\ ANYWAYS. I for one am glad that, even though it is admittedly a small step, it was a step in the right direction.

And welcome to our new members. ^__^ Glad to have you all here! :D

That seems to only apply to the UK. Are LGBT men in the United States also able to give blood, now?

You may remember me talking about this, but many schools in California have contemplated, and a few already have, banned all blood drives on their campuses. The reasoning is because the blood ban policy violates their campuses' nondiscrimination policy. A House Rep. for LGBT students on our campus introduced legislation that would do just that several times, but they were all unsuccessful.

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Originally Posted by FreakyLocz14 That seems to only apply to the UK. Are LGBT men in the United States also able to give blood, now?

When I went to the blood drive a year ago, the literature I read said it was only if you're a man that's had sex with another man in the past year, so I think they're the same policy now

I donate blood as often as I can. Yes I'm gay but I'm also a virgin so I've never been in any strife.

I'm looking at the American Red Cross's website right now under the eligibility criteria page and under the section for HIV/AIDS it says, among other things:

So it doesn't outright say you can't, just that "you should not if you are at risk" which probably means the same thing and you'll be stopped if you try. Kinda makes you angry that they consider any gay male sex to put you at risk when HIV/AIDS is something anyone could have, but then they do list about a hundred things that can make you ineligible and I'm sure a lot of them are just as unreasonable.

Also, it mentions under the section on hormone replacement therapy:

The way it's worded makes me think that it won't accept anyone doing HRT unless they are someone like they mention. That's also quite sad, but I don't know enough about the process to know if it might actually affect your blood so I can't be sure if it's just more of the same or a valid reason.

Do people still believe/talk about the earring-on-the-gay-side idea? I haven't heard this in a long time.

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Originally Posted by Scarf Also, it mentions under the section on hormone replacement therapy: The way it's worded makes me think that it won't accept anyone doing HRT unless they are someone like they mention. That's also quite sad, but I don't know enough about the process to know if it might actually affect your blood so I can't be sure if it's just more of the same or a valid reason.

I don't see how it could make more of a difference than menopausal HRT, but then again I don't really know what kind of dosage menopausal women take so I can't compare very well.
I know I heard something about blood clotting easier on HRT but I assumed it was related to the stress your body goes through metabolising the stuff. /sadly sadly underinformed xD

I think I was on anti-androgens when I last donated blood. Spironolactone was not on the list of warning medications (nor was any kind of hormone that I saw) so I'm not overly worried. :/

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Originally Posted by Scarf Do people still believe/talk about the earring-on-the-gay-side idea? I haven't heard this in a long time.

I always thought it was more of a joke to begin with.

Which side is gay? Is it left?



Ignore the awful quality. :p

Sexuality isn't a problem for me giving blood...it's my weight, haha. I don't weigh enough to give blood, and tbh, I hate needles.

Now stuff...

What is you age? What is your age-range for dating (minimum/maximum)?

I'm 19, but I won't date anyone younger than 19. Every time I hit a new age, I think back to how I was at the previous age and I just start thinking "man x is so young!" so even 18 seems young to me lol. The highest I would date would probably be...I wanna say 21. Cause at my uni, 21 is the average graduating age, so I mean, need to get them while they're still in school, you feel me? ;) lol And it's not too far from 19. I'm really weird with ages, I know haha. 22 maybe, but that's pushing it. I do like someone who is 21 though! Though I look about 13-15, so I don't think a lot of older people would wanna be seen with me. lol They'd look like pedos.

That's actually a federal regulation. It is prohibited for men who have had sex with since 1977 to donate blood in the United States. It is enforced by those who fit that description from being deferred from donating blood for life. (21 CFR 864).
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/BloodBloodProducts/QuestionsaboutBlood/ucm108186.htm

Yep, if you say you're a male that's had sex with a male, you're auto-banned from giving blood. Sooooo... I'll just keep giving blood 'til I am no longer a virgin. And then they'll lose my supply of A+ blood. :)

What is you age? What is your age-range for dating (minimum/maximum)?
I'm 22, almost 23. (Wowww, hard to believe that!) I'd guess +-4 years, so the youngest I'd go is like 18/19 and I'd go up to 26/27.

Though the guy I am after is 21 >D Should just get him drunk...~

I don't know. I was reminded of it when Family Guy came on. The scene from the one posted above. I'm still curious about Link wearing it.

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Originally Posted by U_Flame I don't know. I was reminded of it when Family Guy came on. The scene from the one posted above. I'm still curious about Link wearing it.

Ooh, I found this.
http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071211231930AA6GrSG

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Originally Posted by Answerererererer Originally if a man in North America had his left ear pierced it meant that he was gay and sexually dominant, and having his right ear pierced meaning gay and sexually submissive. Gradually, it evolved to a man with his right ear pierced perceived as being gay and a man with his left ear being pierced perceived as being straight. Now, it just means a pierced ear. (Men getting their ear pierced originated with pirates; the value of the earring was meant to pay for their burial if they were lost at sea and their body washed ashore).

Soooooooooo Link is gay and submissive?

All the more reason for someone to invent virtual reality.

According to this one flash video he is. It's on Newgrounds. I'll post a link (lol) when I find it. Basically Zelda and Saria are a couple, Link and Ganondorf are a couple, and the Triforce is a symbol for gay straight and bi.

I think I'll just drop by here to leave this for the entertainment of everyone here:

Spoiler:

I think people who think joining Facebook groups will actually change something are ridiculous. Even if they had managed to get anywhere near 1 million (or hell, even anywhere near one thousand lmao) what would it accomplish?

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=2u8D0Ihs9o0

Zelda's PRIDE Force! The ending is pretty random and weird but still, this video is awesome. And yes it proves Link IS the submissive one.

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Originally Posted by Shining Raichu I think people who think joining Facebook groups will actually change something are ridiculous. Even if they had managed to get anywhere near 1 million (or hell, even anywhere near one thousand lmao) what would it accomplish?

-Thinks up a snappy comeback- Ummm . . . it would be a pretty number? :3

Anyway yeah, I agree. I don't really join any Facebook groups (I make a few exceptions but only one per theme, like I wouldn't join two groups that are both LGBT themed.) because I don't really think it would help anything. xD
Also I can't stand when people make little groups called "I hate [[insert celebrity's name here]]!!!!!!!!111one" because the Facebook rules actually explicitly state you don't make hate groups. :/

I don't think the goal of most groups like that is really to bring about any great change, but to change the opinions of as many individual people as possible. Or maybe just to be a place for people to feel at home.

In the case of the anti-gay groups, I think it's just random people being too scared to show their hate in real life, so they just troll online.

That said, I've never even been to Facebook once, so I don't know what they're actually like.

You are a facebook virgin! lol

It's nothing special. People just like to use it to keep in touch with friends, creep on others, or to feel important. haha. I rarely use it myself. The groups do not do much, for the most part. Basically you join, and then you comment about a topic or updates; so it basically like a thread on here. lol.

They're pretty much exactly what you'd expect lol, trolling is a pretty universal practice.

The worst anti-LGBT trolling I've ever seen was in October last year in the lead-up to Spirit Day. Some of the things the people there said were absolutely horrible. People uncensoredly saying that all gay people should do exactly what those poor boys did and kill ourselves. It was really nasty. Even I wasn't able to keep myself from feeding the trolls.

Facebook groups for LGBT rights? I don't really have a problem with them, however I think there's a page on facebook that actually gets things done. Oh and hi, I'm a new member...

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Originally Posted by Shining Raichu They're pretty much exactly what you'd expect lol, trolling is a pretty universal practice. The worst anti-LGBT trolling I've ever seen was in October last year in the lead-up to Spirit Day. Some of the things the people there said were absolutely horrible. People uncensoredly saying that all gay people should do exactly what those poor boys did and kill ourselves. It was really nasty. Even I wasn't able to keep myself from feeding the trolls.

Don't you think that maybe it gets to a point where they're no longer trolls and just flat-out jerks? If I'm not mistaken "troll" always indicates some kind of insincerity, but it they're being this mean I'm tempted to think there actual real live jerks and they actually believe what they say.

Anyway, nothing much to say but wow that sucks. >_>

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Originally Posted by First Snow Facebook groups for LGBT rights? I don't really have a problem with them, however I think there's a page on facebook that actually gets things done. Oh and hi, I'm a new member...

Hi, new member! Welcome to the club! :D -Gives you the official newbie crown-

Welcome, First Snow! You're the first person that's been given the official newbie crown, Ineffable~ must like you more than a friend! XD

I've always sort of just associated "troll" with "jerk" to be honest lol - like troll is the internet version of a jackass. But you're right, it does suggest insincerity. These guys weren't trolls, they were just jerks.

Anyway I think it's time for a new question since the club seems to be slow today. I'll do another more broad question so that the allies can come and play too :). It's a bit on the superficial side but I think we could all do with a little break from the serious stuff lol

Do you have a 'type'? What characteristics do you look for in a partner?

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Originally Posted by Shining Raichu They're pretty much exactly what you'd expect lol, trolling is a pretty universal practice. The worst anti-LGBT trolling I've ever seen was in October last year in the lead-up to Spirit Day. Some of the things the people there said were absolutely horrible. People uncensoredly saying that all gay people should do exactly what those poor boys did and kill ourselves. It was really nasty. Even I wasn't able to keep myself from feeding the trolls.

Reading this makes me feel VERY blessed to have gone to the high school I went to. Almost everyone was very open to LGBT people, and whenever someone voiced dissent, they usually were silenced pretty quickly. xD I remember, for instance, when Brokeback Mountain came out. We were having a do-nothing day in history class, and that movie got brought upm and this one guy was being all "God what a gross movie lolol, blah blah blah" and most of the class was pretty much "STFU AND GTFO" xD

Do you have a 'type'? What characteristics do you look for in a partner?

Umm, the only thing I really would look for is that they AREN'T effeminate. :\ Other than that, I am pretty much patient with a lot of different personalities, so until I actually start dating, I don't think I know exactly what I will want in a guy. xD