Straight Man Who ‘Appeared Gay’ Not Allowed To Give Blood

    A blood bank in Gary, Indiana, rejected a 22-year-old man from giving blood because they said he “appears to be a homosexual.” “I was humiliated and embarrassed,” said Aaron Pace. “It’s not right that homeless people can give blood but homosexuals can’t. And I’m not even a homosexual.” The blood bank cited the 30-year-old federal policy of refusing to let any man who has had sex with another man, even once, since 1977 donate because of their perceived greater risk of transmitting blood-born diseases. Despite a chronic shortage of blood in this country, the American Red Cross stands by its policy of rejecting blood donations by gay men, despite the fact that all blood samples are tested for STD’s and other diseases.