They Insist It Isn't Genetic, But Why Take The Chance

The FDA plans to go ahead with its implementation of a ban on gay donors to sperm banks beginning on May 25th.

The FDA has rejected calls to scrap the provision, insisting that gay men collectively pose a higher-than-average risk of carrying the AIDS virus. Critics accuse the FDA of stigmatizing all gay men rather than adopting a screening process that focuses on high-risk sexual behavior by any would-be donor, gay or straight.

"Under these rules, a heterosexual man who had unprotected sex with HIV-positive prostitutes would be OK as a donor one year later, but a gay man in a monogamous, safe-sex relationship is not OK unless he's been celibate for five years," said Leland Traiman, director of a clinic in Alameda, California, that seeks gay sperm donors.

Not being privy to the info given to prospective recipients of such donations, I am left to ask... Isn't the medical history of the donors provided so as to let the receivers make informed decisions as to whether or not the donor is acceptable?

Being wary of anything that issues forth (no pun intended) from any governmental entity during this administration's tenure, I am curious as to the scientific/medical justification for this ban.

Oh, who am I kidding!? You all know that I suspect that this is just another example of theocracy-in-action. This reeks of the religious-right's attempt to cover all of its bases regarding the causes of homosexuality. They are sure it's just a sinful urge but don't want to take any chances with the genetic possibilities.