Opportunity Knocks
When the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted its ban against gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (MSMs) donating blood in early summer, it marked the end to another form of discrimination. Now, the Blood Bank of Delmarva is rolling out its plan to welcome the new pool of donors as the organization faces a Blood Emergency.
CAMP Rehoboth is stepping up to help with this imperative community need.
For several decades, MSMs were denied the opportunity to donate blood solely based on their sexual orientation. Now, when donors sign up and arrive to donate, they will be asked instead about risky behaviors and other science-based data points that will ensure safe blood donations. These questions are asked of all donors, regardless of sexual orientation. The new individual donor assessment (IDA) was rolled out in early October.
Ralph Groves, account manager at the Blood Bank of Delmarva, explains how the questionnaire will ask about sexual behavior, specifically, about whether the donor has had a new sexual partner or multiple partners in the past three months, and whether anal sex (whether or not condoms were used) was involved. If answers to those questions are affirmative, then the donor will be deferred.
The shift to behavior versus orientation provides an opportunity for many in the queer community, including the greater Rehoboth community, to donate. As a gay man himself, Groves reports, “I never thought I could donate blood and have been scared [for years] to donate blood,” citing fears of getting outed or somehow punished for his sexuality.
To that, Groves understands there may be some hesitancy among gay (to employ the umbrella term here) men to donate blood. After not being able to donate for over 35 years, Groves said that he’s heard refusals from friends. As the Blood Bank bears no responsibility for the FDA guidelines, his response is simple: “This is not about a boycott. This is about saving a life.”
Opening up the donor pool proves opportune timing as the Blood Bank of Delmarva recently declared a “Blood Emergency.” The emergency is defined by the Blood Bank as an urgent need for donors, due to dangerously low levels of O+, O-, B-, and platelets. “We only have a blood supply of a couple of days, compared to a blood supply we like to have of seven or eight days for each blood type,” said Groves. “Right now, we are under five [days] for everything.”
Groves noted that a single car accident can require 40 or 50 pints of blood at one time. As the Blood Bank ideally hopes to collect 400 pints per day, one accident can deplete 10 percent or more of that day’s supply.
CAMP Rehoboth has responded to the urgent need by partnering with the Blood Bank to host a blood drive on Saturday, November 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Registration options are to sign up for a “Whole Blood” or “AR-Double Red” appointment. Advance registration is required at camprehoboth.org/blooddrive.
“What pleases me about this partnership is it’s yet another avenue for our community to give back and get involved,” said Leslie Ledogar, Vice President of the CAMP Rehoboth Board. “It’s not a monetary one. It’s a way to give a life without reaching into your pocket.”
Inviting the entire community, Ledogar continued, “I encourage everyone, whether they’re gay men, lesbians, or anyone else in the community, to register and save the life of a neighbor.” Ledogar shares in the founding vision of CAMP Rehoboth: a community of neighbors sharing empathy and compassion for one another.
Groves summarizes the plea simply: “Go donate blood. If you are able to donate blood considering the individual donor assessment and the questions they’re going to ask, please donate blood. We need it.” ▼
Matty Brown is the Communications Manager at CAMP Rehoboth.