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Fourth-year political science students Joe Iniguez and Carlos Saucedo, a USAC general representat

As the “Get the Red Out” blood drive went on in the James West Alumni Center, students from the “Fight to Give Life” campaign protested outside what they call discriminatory measures by the Food and Drug Association.

Students protested the current blood donation eligibility guidelines which ban men who have had sexual contact with another male at least once since 1977 from donating blood. Women who have had sexual contact with one of those men in the last 12 months are also restricted from donating blood.

According to the FDA Web site, the current ban was set up in 1983 to prevent individuals who are at a higher risk of transmitting HIV from donating blood.

At the Undergraduate Students Association Council meeting Tuesday, the council voted unanimously to pass a resolution in support of the Fight to Give Life campaign. The resolution stated that due to a shortage in blood donations, “all able-bodied individuals should be allowed to donate blood without being selectively marginalized by the federal government.”

“The policy is socially unjust in that it impedes the ability of gay students on campus from donating blood,” the resolution continued.

At the meeting, councilmembers voiced their concerns regarding the policy.

“This policy makes people feel uncomfortable with themselves,” said Carlos Saucedo, a USAC general representative and protest organizer. “The blood is tested regardless of sexual orientation. This policy is blatantly discriminatory and perpetuates homophobia,” he said.

But because infection may not show up on HIV-antibody tests for up to two months, the FDA Web site says recently infected blood may pass tests.

“We want the blood to be as safe as possible. We follow the guideline of FDA,” said Khacho Shahnazarian, a Registered Nurse working at the blood drive.

Another protester, Diana Aldapa, a fifth-year Chicana/o studies student has had friends try to donate blood who were told they could not donate because of their sexual orientation.

“When they tell you that you can’t donate blood, you feel inferior if it’s for a reason you can’t control,” Aldapa said.

The protesters spoke to students and asked them to sign a petition which they will send to the FDA, asking them to repeal the ban.

Aldapa said some people from the blood drive wanted them to move their booth, because they thought it would discourage people from donating.

“We are not trying to discourage people from donating blood. We are encouraging people to donate,” Aldapa said.

The FDA Web site also states that this policy has been discussed and evaluated by the FDA Blood Products Advisory Committee. In 1997, the committee recommended that the FDA “reconsider the current recommendations for the deferral of men who have sex with other men,” but no specific recommendations were given for what should be done.

Jennifer Partnoff, a fifth-year women’s studies and history student, said she disagrees with the policy because now people are more aware of STIs and how to avoid them. Partnoff also takes issue with the ban because it prevents certain people from ever donating blood.

The FDA Web site acknowledged that some excluded individuals may take precautions to avoid transmission.

“Although a potential individual donor may practice safe sex, persons who have participated in high-risk behaviors are, as a group, still considered to be at increased risk for transmitting HIV.”

But the Fight to Give Life campaign argues that though this policy may have initially been warranted, it is now outdated.

“When this policy was first put in place, more people were HIV positive. Now people are more aware and take more safety measures,” Partnoff said.

According to its Web site, the FDA continues to review the donor-deferral policy.

“(The) FDA is very much aware that strict exclusion policies eliminate some safe donors in the attempt to maximally protect the nation’s blood supply by deferring the largest number of donors at increased risk for HIV infection.”