Comments on: Yul Kwon and the Asian American Donor Program http://www.8asians.com/2007/02/16/yul-kwon-and-the-asian-american-donor-program/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:53:47 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Efren http://www.8asians.com/2007/02/16/yul-kwon-and-the-asian-american-donor-program/comment-page-1/#comment-350 Efren Wed, 21 Feb 2007 07:59:13 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/2007/02/16/yul-kwon-and-the-asian-american-donor-program/#comment-350 Unfortunately, many in the API community are completely unaware of the ban on donating any kind of blood products by anyone who's had sex with a man who's had sex with men, even if they're HIV negative. I've been asked many times to help out with API bone marrow drives and whatnot, and there's usually shock on the faces of those volunteers who realize that gay/bi/queer API men can't donate blood or blood products. Unless of course, they lie, which a lot of us have to do in order to participate. I've told those bone marrow drives and other ethnically oriented drives that if they're willing to fight to get rid of this outdated and homophobic policy, I'll be more than happy to participate in these drives. But until then, I'm going to raise awareness about this and tell them to help get rid of this policy. Unfortunately, many in the API community are completely unaware of the ban on donating any kind of blood products by anyone who’s had sex with a man who’s had sex with men, even if they’re HIV negative.

I’ve been asked many times to help out with API bone marrow drives and whatnot, and there’s usually shock on the faces of those volunteers who realize that gay/bi/queer API men can’t donate blood or blood products. Unless of course, they lie, which a lot of us have to do in order to participate.

I’ve told those bone marrow drives and other ethnically oriented drives that if they’re willing to fight to get rid of this outdated and homophobic policy, I’ll be more than happy to participate in these drives. But until then, I’m going to raise awareness about this and tell them to help get rid of this policy.

]]> By: HC-G http://www.8asians.com/2007/02/16/yul-kwon-and-the-asian-american-donor-program/comment-page-1/#comment-330 HC-G Tue, 20 Feb 2007 17:31:21 +0000 http://www.8asians.com/2007/02/16/yul-kwon-and-the-asian-american-donor-program/#comment-330 On a related note, this is also why we arranged for the preservation of our infant's cord blood -- his ethnic combination is truly multiracial Asian (I'm Korean and my husband is 1/2 Chinese and 1/2 Anglo-Indian). Cord blood also saves lives --- preserve your newborn's cord blood. On a related note, this is also why we arranged for the preservation of our infant’s cord blood — his ethnic combination is truly multiracial Asian (I’m Korean and my husband is 1/2 Chinese and 1/2 Anglo-Indian).

Cord blood also saves lives — preserve your newborn’s cord blood.

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