Letter: Gays who can't donate blood are overreacting

Editor,

Thank heaven United Blood Services does not accept blood from people who admit to being gay.

Marshall Martinez said he is expected to be a good American and help out, but can't give blood. He is expected to be a good American, just as all Americans are, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Whining about not being able to give blood, however, is just that - whining. The statistics for sexually transmitted diseases have for years borne out the fact that gays are at a higher risk of being infected. Why then, is someone who is not gay and wants the best possible chance of receiving non-infected blood being discriminatory?

Hospitals use the same common sense in not allowing people with communicable diseases to visit patients. It is a health issue that has nothing to do with discrimination.

I am sure that if United Blood Services thought his blood was not at risk, they'd be glad to have it.

When I was fighting cancer and going through chemotherapy, I was not allowed to go to public places because of my susceptibility to airborne disease. I did not think that all those who could go to public places were discriminating against me. I realized it was a common sense issue, and did what I needed to get well.

I am tired of people whining about not being able to do everything they want because they have some minority issue. Every American is a minority, whether it relates to race, sexual preference, religion, politics or some other issue. That does not give us the liberty to claim special rights relevant to our minority status. All people have the right to live their lives within the boundaries of the law, but with each decision comes the responsibility of being a good citizen for the common good.

Larry Crum

UNM staff