Students at Winfield High School boycotted a blood drive at the school Wednesday in protest of federal rules that ban sexually active gay men from donating blood.
The students wore stickers to school that supported their views. In response, a group of students that approve of the policy, wore stickers in support of their view, according to school officials.
Students wearing either sticker were asked to meet in the WHS auditorium with administrators, American Red Cross personnel and the high school nurse. Students were given information about the issues involved in the ban and were offered a chance to ask questions.
Students then returned to class and were allowed to wear their stickers for the rest of the day, according to a written statement from the school district. No other incidents occurred during the school.
This fall, an “openly gay” student at the high school was not allowed to give blood at a regularly scheduled blood drive, according to one official that spoke with NewsCow but asked not to be identified.
The student and his supporters organized the boycott of Wednesday’s spring blood drive.
This is far from the first time the guidelines have led to protest. Red Cross officials say they are only following Food and Drug Administration rules.
The FDA put the ban on gay male blood donors into effect in 1985 as the AIDS epidemic was escalating. Any man who’s ever had sex with another man since 1977, cannot donate.
Nationwide the Red Cross has asked that the ban be lifted or at reduced in some manner.
