- Global Voices - https://globalvoices.org -

China: Where are you, LES blood donors?

Categories: East Asia, China, Digital Activism, Disaster, Governance, Humanitarian Response, LGBTQ+

After the frightful calamity of Sichuan earthquake, people from all walks of life in China are attending various charitable activities to help those victims, however, lesbians [1], a special community which is unwelcome to the Chinese traditional mainstream, are left in a predicament when they try to contribute as blood donors [2].

The blog of les+, a voluntary Lesbian magazine, published an article titled by Where are you, LES blood donors? [3] to criticize the ban on blood from lesbians:

“We want to donate blood”

近日汶川8级地震,举国悲哀,全国上下,捐款献血,人人尽力为灾区捐献自己的一份心意。同志社区内部,大家都为灾区捐款捐物,也有很多人在第一时间去献血,挽救灾区人民的生命。

有很多去献血的拉拉反映,她们看到献血规定中指明,同性恋者不许献血。有些人表明了自己的同性恋身份后,被血站管理人员拒绝了献血的义举(其中还有人是稀有的RH阴性血),理由是同性恋是易感染艾滋病的高危人群。

但是在因不安全的性行为导致的不安全血液方面,女同志不比任何一个群体更高危,甚至有研究数据表明女女性行为是较为低危的(较其她人群而言),这适用于所有相关的性传染疾病,包括艾滋病和乙肝。

在国难时期,人人都想贡献自己的一份力量,帮助她人,挽救生命。有关不合理的规定阻止了同性恋者献血的义举,凉了大家救灾的心。拉拉们希望积极参与到抗震救灾的行动中去,请不要拒绝我们的一腔热血!

北京女同小组同语目前正在收集拉拉献血的故事,并计划向有关部门呼吁修改献血规定。献过血的拉拉,请发邮件到tongyu.org@gmail.com ,告诉我们你的献血经历。让我们大家一起携手,消除社会对同性恋的歧视,帮助他人,帮助自己!

After Wenchuan was hit by an 8 magnitude earthquake, the whole nation has been in deep sorrow. People all over China actively donate either money or blood, trying to express their concern. In the homosexual community, we also make donations for the earthquake-stricken area, and many of us went to donate blood without any hesitation, in hope of saving more lives of the victims.
.
A lot of LESs find out the regulations of blood donation have specified the homosexual people are prohibited from donating blood. The blood stations rejected some LESs’ offer when they indicated their sexual orientation (even some of them have the rare RH-negative blood), on the ground that the homosexual is the high-risk group of AIDS.
.
However, as to the contaminated blood transmitted by unprotected sex, lesbians are not more dangerous than any other groups. A study applying to all the sexually transmitted diseases (STD), including AIDS and Hepatitis B, showed that sex between women is comparatively low-risky (compared to other groups).
.
During the national calamity, everyone is trying to contribute something to help the victims and save lives, but the unreasonable regulations have prevented altruistic act of the homosexual and disappointed all of us. LESs long to take an active part in the disaster relief, so please don't turn down our earnest donations.
.
Tongyu, a lesbian association in Beijing, is collecting the blood donation stories of LESs, and going to call for an amendment of blood donation rules. LESs who have donated blood please send email to tongyu.org@gmail.com , telling us your experience of donation. Let's hold on together to eliminate the homophobia and discrimination based on sexual orientation; help others and help ourselves!

Comments in les+‘s blog:

作者:诱惑你 发布于:2008-05-28 06:40:50
不错

Author: Tempt You Posted on: 2008-05-28 06:40:50
Not bad

作者:Chelsea 发布于:2008-05-28 15:12:36
我不是医学专业人士,但是我想,如果的确存在同志基因的话,那这种规定就是合理的。
不过如果按这种逻辑推理下去……有暴力基因的、变异基因的,都更加不符合献血条件。
看他们觉得什么重要了。活下去重要,还是维持自身基因的“纯正性”重要。

Author:Chelsea Posted on:2008-05-28 15:12:36
I'm not a medical profession, but I think once the homosexual genes do exist, such regulations should be reasonable.
However, according to that logic…people with violent or mutant genes won't qualify for the standards of blood donation, either.
It all depends on the victims of the earthquake. What's more important to them, to live on or to maintain the “purity” of their genes?

作者:游客 发布于:2008-05-31 23:45:09
近日同事献血,需填一堆调查问卷,我也看到相关问题。
其中一条是:是否有吸毒、同性恋、艾滋病史。
它们将这三者放在一起,出发点就是错误地认为这三者是相关的。
拉拉的血其实比异性恋的血更安全些。

Author:Guest Posted on:2008-05-31 23:45:09
I have seen the related problems after my colleague who recently went to donate blood was asked to complete a pile of questionnaires.
One of the questions is: whether has drug addiction, homosexual history or AIDS history.
They put such three items together, holding a wrong point that they are related with each other.
In fact, the blood of LESs is safer than those heterosexual.

Being listed with other communicable diseases [4] like AIDS [5] and leprosy [6], all “the homosexual and people who have multiple sexual partners” are banned from donating blood, according to China's health standards for blood donors (《献血者健康检查标准》 [7]) .

The questionnaire of blood donation in Beijing Xidan in 2008

A thread in Tianya [8] fully quoted les+‘s article that protests regulations against lesbian donors. Netizens, including many LESs, showed their views and experience of blood donations there:

作者:不能告诉你11 发布于:2008-5-28 13:59:12
不会吧,献血的 时候,告诉人家,是同性恋干什么?
医院里面难道对血,也是拿来就用?不进行基本检测的?那异性恋的血液有问题不是同样没有检测的嘛?
不会吧~~~~~~太恐怖了

Author: Can't Tell You 11 Posted on:2008-5-28 13:59:12
Oh, no. Why did you tell others you are homosexual while donating blood?
Doesn't the hospital make any blood test before using it? Does that mean the unclean blood from the heterosexual is also used without any test?
No way~~~~~~it's too horrible.

作者:黄泉路上遛狗  发布于:2008-5-28 14:10:29 
有人鲜的是血小板,当时我只顾着眼花了,没注意这个细节,不过那个同性恋史是针对GAY的吧?

Author: Walking the Dog on Huangquan Road Posted on:2008-5-28 14:10:29
Someone only donated platelet. I was just dizzy at that time and didn't notice such regulations, but the question about the homosexual history must only aim at GAY, right?

作者:沉默的小小猪 发布于:2008-5-28 14:49:29 
我去献啦,会让你填个表格,里面有多个选项,其中一个就是:是否有过同性恋史…
填表格的话就无视那一条好了
只要知道自己身心健康,无各种疾病及遗传病就好
大家有钱出钱,有血出血,有力出力哇

Author:Silent piggy Posted on: 2008-5-28 14:49:29
I have donated. They would ask you to complete a questionnaire in which one of the items is: whether has homosexual history…
Just ignore it when you fill the form.
It's OK as long as you are healthy and don't have other diseases or hereditary diseases.
Let those with money contribute money, those with blood contribute blood, and those with strength contribute strength.

作者:应该有个马甲了  发布于:2008-5-28 18:07:13 
针对GAY的。
当年鲜血看到那条,心里面很冒火

Author:Should Have a Waistcoat Posted on:2008-5-28 18:07:13
It must aim at GAY.
When I went to donate blood, I was extremely annoyed at that ban.

作者:xxxian 发布于:2008-5-28 20:27:55 
目前的献血规定是针对所有同性恋者,包括女同性恋。
如果拉拉去献血,并在填表的时候说明自己是同性恋,也会被拒绝 – 我们听到不少这样的例子!

Author: xxxian Posted on:2008-5-28 20:27:55
Now the restriction of blood donation is aimed at all the homosexual, including lesbians.
If a les goes to donate blood, and shows her sexual orientation, she will be also turned down-we have heard a number of similar examples!

作者:xxxian 发布于:2008-5-30 9:06:41
这个规定明显不合理
如果能够呼吁有关卫生部门改变这个规定
能大大消除社会对同性恋的偏见和歧视
希望这里的版主能支持一下,谢谢 :)

Author:xxxian Posted on:2008-5-30 9:06:41
Such regulations are obviously unreasonable.
If we can call for the public health department to change the regulations, the social discrimination and prejudice on the homosexual will be greatly eased.
Hope the webmaster here can support it. Thanks:)

作者:豆子的挪挪 发布于:2008-5-30 15:34:41 
我四次献血都是在2004年以前,我没有注意这个,但是四次献血都很顺利

Author:The Bean's Nana Posted on:2008-5-30 15:34:41
I donated blood for four times before 2004. I didn't notice the regulations then and everything was going well.

作者:作客人生  发布于:2008-5-30 18:02:10 
我也献过四次了,一年一次,都看到这个条例了,不过我自信自己很健康。而且血液中心每次都会发短信给我,告知我的血液检验结果很正常,这些短信我都留着。留的结果也许是赌气,或者是原谅他们的无知。我们的血都是红的。原谅这些世人吧。表达自己的心,让别人说去吧。

Author:A Guest of Life Posted on:2008-5-30 18:02:10 
I have also donated four times, once a year. I saw the regulations every time, but I'm sure I am very healthy. Besides, the blood center would always send me a message to tell that my blood examination was very normal. I have kept all the messages, which may make me angry or forgive their ignorance. We all have the same red blood. Please forgive those common people. Take its own way and leave others reviewing.

作者:共老 发布于:2008-5-30 19:00:57 
明显的歧视条款!!!!!!!
同志们的地位很低啊.
虽然说医学上早就承认同性恋不是心理疾病,
但你随便到图书馆找几本心理方面的书来看看,
赫然的标明这一类疾病,还告诉你很多治疗方法.
没病也给你整出病来.
不要以为最近几年的版本没有了,多的是.

Author:Old Gong Posted on:2008-5-30 19:00:57
That's obviously discriminative clause!!!!!!!
The general status of homosexual is very low.
Although the medical circle has acknowledged homosexuality is not mental disease for a long time,
you can easily find a couple of psychological books from library,
in which homosexuality is clearly classified as disease with many different therapies.
They just create disease for healthy people.
Don't even think about it that such books are disappearing. There are a lot.

作者:老婆的黏豆包 回复日期:2008-5-30 21:29:24 
我5月23日去献的血。
我承认我撒谎了,我是拉拉,我有纹身,而且好像当天老朋友还来了(献血时没来)。
不过5月28日,我收到如下短信:“感谢您捐血救人!您5月23日献血检测合格,欢迎2008年11月23日后再次奉献爱心!62758257上海市血液中心【上海献血】
。。。。。。

Author:Wife's sticky Doubao Posted on:2008-5-30 21:29:24
I went to donate blood on May 23.
I admit I lied. I am les and I have tattoos. I was having my period that day (later than the donation).
But on May 28, I received a message as follows: “Thank you for your contribution! Your blood donated on May 23 has passed the inspection. We welcome you to contribute again after November 28, 2008! 62758257 Shanghai Blood Center【Shanghai Blood Donations】”

作者:走出巫山的云 发布于:2008-5-31 3:26:54 
他不让去献,我就不去献了,免得惹麻烦。虽然我是同,其实我从来都没有乱性,要说我的血液带病毒的风险其实比好多异性恋者低很多,国家这样的规定其实也没用,献血的时候谁知道谁是同性恋者呢,要真对用血的病人负责的话,我想还是应该进行严格的检测。这其实是歧视同性恋者的一个规定。

Author:Cloud Walking out of Wu Mountain Posted on:2008-5-31 3:26:54 

If he doesn't want me to donate, I won't do. I don't want to make troubles. Although I'm homosexual, I never have promiscuous sexual acts. As for the risk of contaminated blood I am actually much safer than many heterosexual people. Such clause made by the authorities is useless. Who can tell the homosexual from the heterosexual during the blood donating? The safety of blood users can't be guaranteed unless a strict verification is conducted. So the clause is nothing more than a discrimination against the homosexual.

作者:雨水之恋y 发布于:2008-5-31 7:11:17 
刚来这里做志愿者的第二天因外援血浆没到,我们几个就匆忙献血,医生做了简单血检就直接用注射器抽了,血袋也没有,更别提填表了,所以还不知道拉拉不能献血的规定,即使有也是不合理的,拉拉一样爱国,一样有颗赤子心,一样有人权,平什么受歧视?

Author:The Love of Rainwater y Posted on:2008-5-31 7:11:17
On the second day when we were working as volunteers, the plasma aid didn't come in time, so we went to donate blood immediately. After a simple test, the doctor just directly drew our blood with injector. There were even no blood bags, let alone a questionnaire. So I didn't know whether there's such a clause that prohibits LESs from donating blood. If it does exist, it should be unreasonable. LESs with human rights like us are also patriotic and innocent. Why should they face such discrimination?

A post in Netease BBS [9] also quoted and introduced the article of les+‘s blog. Some netizens expressed their negative feelings of homosexuality and different views on LES blood donations:

作者:游客 发布于:2008-05-30 11:13:58
很奇怪。炒作??
我没献血过,所以不太清楚……
献血的时候会问性取向么……
男同性恋得爱滋的比例是比异性恋要高……
因此无辜牵扯到女同性恋也是比较倒霉的事情……

Author:Guest Posted on:2008-05-30 11:13:58
It's weird. A hype??
I have never donated blood, so I know little about it…
Will people be asked about their sexual orientation when they donate blood…
The gays are more at risk for the infection that causes AIDS than the heterosexual…
It's unlucky that the clause involves the innocent lesbians.

作者:游客 发布于:2008-05-30 11:52:12
正视问题,不应该激动,为了大家的安全,有权利拒绝不安全因数,这是歧视吗?同性恋问题值得深思。

Author:Guest Posted on:2008-05-30 11:52:12
We should squarely face the question, but not present impulsion. For people's safety, we have rights to reject insecure factors. Can you call it discrimination? The homosexual is an issue that deserves a deep consideration.

作者:ziyue44 发表于:2008-05-30 14:09:26
个人观点:只要法律没有禁止,那么人家同性恋,那是他(她)们的自由,谁也无权干涉。站在旁观者的角度上看,人家同性变,与你有关系吗?防碍你了吗?既然没人,那又凭什么去干涉别人的私人行为。

Author:ziyue44 Posted on:2008-05-30 14:09:26
Personal opinion: as long as homosexuality is not forbidden by the law, the gays and lesbians absolutely have rights to live in their own way; it's their freedom and no one has the right to interfere in their life. From the other view, do the homosexual have anything to do with you?Do they bother you? If not, why do you meddle in others’ affairs?

作者:lunlun-1988 发布于:2008-05-30 14:32:02
爱国是可以的,但为了安全起见,这样的措施是应该的,不是歧视,希望当事人应理解这问题!我虽不是专业学医的,但我也一直在选修医学,我知道这是个世界问题,不是仅中国才有的!望你们先查哈相关资料和了解政策后,再做相关事情,还有多党和政府的工作欲与支持,我在此仅代表我个人先向你们表示感谢,感谢你们的爱心

Author: lunlun-1988 Posted on:2008-05-30 14:32:02
Your patriotism is OK, but to be on the safe side, such regulations are reasonable; it's not discrimination, so the persons involved should understand it! I'm not a medical major, but I have been studying medical science as my elective course. I know it's not only China that is faced with such problems, but the whole world! Hope you can firstly look for some relevant information and policies, and then decide what to do next, and don't forget to give more support to the Party and government. Here on behalf of myself, I personally appreciate you and your contribution.

作者:游客 发表于:2008-05-30 14:46:16
我去献过N次血了?怎么就没看到你发的那些规定呢?
炒作的话麻烦你看以下现在是什么时候!
国难啊!!!!你要是有点爱心的话把你的这个时间放在宣传上面的话也可以为灾区人民做出很大的贡献了啊!!
同性恋的问题麻烦大家以后再说好吗??????????????????

Author:Guest Posted on:2008-05-30 14:46:16
I have went to donate blood for N times. Why didn't I see the regulations you mentioned?
If you just want to publicize yourselves, please watch the time!
National calamity!!!! If you are really compassionate, you should have made use of your advertising time to contribute more for the people in the disaster area!!
Can we just talk about the issue of homosexuality later??????????????????