As a born Canadian, put me in the “politely amused” camp. When Canadians have an election and the “wrong side” wins, we don’t claim we’ll move away, we just threaten to write stern letters which we inevitably forget to do.
![good:
Americans are more likely to be killed by lightning than get HIV from a blood transfusion. So why is there still a lifetime ban on gay men donating blood? Amanda Hess looks into the structural homophobia of the blood supply:
Even some guys who are otherwise out of the closet have copped to lying to donate blood as a political statement. “Like jury duty, donating blood is something I consider my civic duty,” a gay blood donor wrote on Queerty in 2009. “And because I’m committed to donating blood, I regularly lie to the Red Cross about my sexuality.” The donor declined to include a byline. Back in 2002, Canadian blood donor Kyle Freemanwrote an anonymous email to Canadian Blood Services informing the agency that he had donated blood 18 times despite the country’s lifetime ban on donations from men who have had sex with men. “I am a gay man and have been involved in a long-term committed relationship,” he wrote. “Both my partner and myself [have] been tested for the HIV virus and are both negative and intend to stay that way. We are both very honest people and are both blood donors.” Canadian Blood Services didn’t see it that way: It tracked Freeman’s IP address, outed him, and sued him for $100,000 for lying on his blood screening questionnaire.
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good:
Americans are more likely to be killed by lightning than get HIV from a blood transfusion. So why is there still a lifetime ban on gay men donating blood? Amanda Hess looks into the structural homophobia of the blood supply:
Even some guys who are otherwise out of the closet have copped to lying to donate blood as a political statement. “Like jury duty, donating blood is something I consider my civic duty,” a gay blood donor wrote on Queerty in 2009. “And because I’m committed to donating blood, I regularly lie to the Red Cross about my sexuality.” The donor declined to include a byline. Back in 2002, Canadian blood donor Kyle Freemanwrote an anonymous email to Canadian Blood Services informing the agency that he had donated blood 18 times despite the country’s lifetime ban on donations from men who have had sex with men. “I am a gay man and have been involved in a long-term committed relationship,” he wrote. “Both my partner and myself [have] been tested for the HIV virus and are both negative and intend to stay that way. We are both very honest people and are both blood donors.” Canadian Blood Services didn’t see it that way: It tracked Freeman’s IP address, outed him, and sued him for $100,000 for lying on his blood screening questionnaire.
1. Al Qaida: Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahri succeeds Osama bin Laden as head of the terror network.
2. Nigeria: Suicide bomber dies in attack on the police headquarters in Nigeria’s capital.
3. Libya: Rebels fire rockets at forces loyal to Gadhafi while pro-democracy activists fly a rebel flag in Tripoli’s sky.
4. Pakistan: 250 Afghani militants cross into Pakistan and attack a village in northwest tribal region.
5. Mexico: Six suspected members of a notorious drug gang are killed in shootout with security forces.
6. Canada: Hockey fans in Vancouver turn violent after the Boston Bruins defeat the hometown Canucks to win the Stanley Cup championship.
VOA 60 is a 1 minute overview of the day’s top news stories — comprised of compelling video clips with simple captions. It is short, concise, and straight to the point so that viewers will be able to get their daily dose of news in less time.
You know I love you, Canada, but seriously.
You know this is true.
