Gender Identity and Blood Donation

 

I am a long-time regular blood donor to the American Red Cross. I’ve always found it an easy way to “give back” to my community. Being tall, giving a pint is easy for me to do. I also used to enjoy the post-donation treats, but my revised way of eating has placed those snacks off-limits.

On my most recent visit, I had taken the “RapidPass” online, where one answers 30 or so questions on one’s lifestyle choices and how they may impact what I’m about to donate. I’m thinking with that out of the way, starting my donation should be quick. I sit down with my American Red Cross assistant interview, and he begins;

“How do you wish to identify? He or she?”

“Wait … what?”

“Please let me know which pronoun I should use for the rest of your time here.”

“Your excellency isn’t a pronoun, is it?”

Dead, humorless eyes stare back. He (er, I presume he) simply waits for me to give him an answer.

“I have the same set between my legs I had on my last visit.” Sigh. “He.”

This interaction leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. The tiny minority of people with gender dysphoria are now “wagging the tail” where it matters. That people whom are pathologically obsessed with demanding that reality and language “bend the knee” to their delusional fiction is one thing. That the American Red Cross is willing to indulge and enable their pathology is simply wrong.

Oh, and that blood from people whom call apples bananas is now in the health system. Lord knows how well they’ve wrongly answered the otherwise straightforward questions they’ve answered to satisfy an agenda of their own making.

@Skyler suggests that the ARC doesn’t need my blood. It may be time to find another donation service, or stop altogether. I am persuaded. If so, however, I do wish to continue donating, but to whom?

Thoughts?

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  1. Rocket Surgeon Inactive
    Rocket Surgeon
    @RocketSurgeon

    Fred Houstan (View Comment):

    Larry3435 (View Comment):
    Next visit, tell the ARC that your pronoun is “Fred.”

    Or, that “Your Excellency” self-identifies as a pronoun.

    What’s the problem?  Everywhere I go they already got it – it’s “Sir”. 

    Maybe it’s the beard.

    • #31
  2. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    However popular this pronoun preference piffle becomes, it’s clear nonsense to the vast majority of people 30 and above. If the Red Cross wants to alienate their donors that is their prerogative. 

    For the record, I identify as a turnip.  

    • #32
  3. Podkayne of Israel Inactive
    Podkayne of Israel
    @PodkayneofIsrael

    The International Red Cross does not let the Israeli Magen David Adom (red star of David) be part of their organization because that name signifies a religious affiliation. In spite of the fact that they like the Red Crescent of Moslem countries just fine.

    For these and other anti-Israel and anti-Semitic offenses, my response to the IRC is CoC compliant by omission.

    • #33
  4. Chris Campion Coolidge
    Chris Campion
    @ChrisCampion

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    Are there no Skid Rows?

    There certainly are Skid Marks.

    Does that answer your question?

    • #34
  5. Chris Campion Coolidge
    Chris Campion
    @ChrisCampion

    Next, you folks will tell me that the ARC blood I’ve been donating all these years winds up in the morning milk/blood bowls of the Illuminati, or something.

    Corporate hands down a directive.  The poor schlumps actually handling the donations have to deal with it.  Don’t take it out on them.  I’m fairly confident the majority of them rolled their eyes, massively, when it became part of their standard question set.

    • #35
  6. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    If I self-identify as a “she”, does that mean I now have to have an annual gyn exam?

    • #36
  7. I Shot The Serif Member
    I Shot The Serif
    @IShotTheSerif

    Stad (View Comment):

    If I self-identify as a “she”, does that mean I now have to have an annual gyn exam?

    Yes, you do. Your bits are now women’s bits.

    • #37
  8. GLDIII Reagan
    GLDIII
    @GLDIII

    Stad (View Comment):

    If I self-identify as a “she”, does that mean I now have to have an annual gyn exam?

    Careful Stad, I don’t think you are going the whether the nether exam very well. 

    • #38
  9. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    GLDIII (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    If I self-identify as a “she”, does that mean I now have to have an annual gyn exam?

    Careful Stad, I don’t think you are going the whether the nether exam very well.

    On the NR Cruise this December, I think I’ll self-identify as “Coorsgender” instead of cisgender . . .

    • #39
  10. Metalheaddoc Member
    Metalheaddoc
    @Metalheaddoc

    I am type O+,  but the problem is some of my erythocytes identify as AB-, and a few identify as Zeta Prime Blue. Can you separate those?

    • #40
  11. Ralphie Inactive
    Ralphie
    @Ralphie

    Eugene Kriegsmann (View Comment):

    I am reminded of a story that William Manchester tells in his book, Goodbye Darkness, about his father who was wounded during World War I and taken to a hospital. After they discovered that he wasn’t going to die and started to treat him Red Cross people came around selling cigarettes to the patients. Manchester’s father had no money, so he was unable to get any until Salvation Army volunteers came through and provided free services to the wounded.

    The fact that cigarettes were probably the last thing any of the wounded needed should not be considered as part of the issue. The fact that the Red Cross was attempting to benefit from providing services to wounded veterans certainly is. Manchester said that he would never give any contribution to the Red Cross, that the Salvation Army was where is chose to donate instead.

    I taught Advanced First Aid and Emergency Care classes for the Red Cross for many years, as well as CPR. The classes I taught ran 60 hours. I gladly donated my time for that purpose since I saw the direct benefit to those I trained. I would never give the Red Cross any money or blood. I would always attempt to donate those things directly to those who were in need at the time they needed it.

    My mother always said that about the red cross based on a cousin that was in Korea.  

    • #41
  12. Blue State Blues Member
    Blue State Blues
    @BlueStateBlues

    Why does anyone need to use a pronoun other than “you” or “your” when addressing you, unless they are talking about you behind your back?  Why the need to even ask?

    • #42
  13. Fred Houstan Member
    Fred Houstan
    @FredHoustan

    Blue State Blues (View Comment):
    Why does anyone need to use a pronoun other than “you” or “your” when addressing you, unless they are talking about you behind your back? Why the need to even ask?

    Yes, very much so. But, for the curious, here’s a fellow that enjoins you to ignore the penis between his legs, well, just because.

    https://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-wilkins/dear-red-cross-i-am-not-a_b_6995296.html

    This is where it gets a little tricky. You see, I’m a transgender woman. This means I was assigned a male identity at birth. Looking at me, you probably wouldn’t know that (unless you happen to question the gender identity of every tall, slightly overweight woman you meet). Every legal document that lists my gender also lists me as female, but I always worry a little in these situations. What if the person screening me addresses me as a man? What if they say I don’t count? I spent most of my life suppressing who I really was, so it’s difficult to walk into situations where I fear my identity might be invalidated.

    • #43
  14. Fred Houstan Member
    Fred Houstan
    @FredHoustan

    Here’s some “guidance” for the addled:

    Phew! Gotta clean the sweat off of my keyboard.

    • #44
  15. aardo vozz Member
    aardo vozz
    @aardovozz

    For self-identification, “I am Locutis of Borg!” just might get their attention. If not, just follow up with “You will all be assimilated! Resistance is futile!”

    • #45
  16. barbara lydick Inactive
    barbara lydick
    @barbaralydick

    Fred Houstan (View Comment):

    Here’s some “guidance” for the addled:

    Phew! Gotta clean the sweat off of my keyboard

    “Using the right pronouns is hard” – Reminds me of the Math is Hard Barbie doll. 

    • #46
  17. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    barbara lydick (View Comment):
    “Using the right pronouns is hard” – Reminds me of the Math is Hard Barbie doll.

    Are you sure it wasn’t a Ken doll self-identifying as Barbie?

    • #47
  18. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Stad (View Comment):

    barbara lydick (View Comment):
    “Using the right pronouns is hard” – Reminds me of the Math is Hard Barbie doll.

    Are you sure it wasn’t a Ken doll self-identifying as Barbie?

    That reminds me of an ‘activist’ attack; shortly before Christmas some people purchased a bunch of Barbies and GI Joes of the 12″ variety, switched their voice boxes and took them back to the stores. Part of me feels bad for the kids that got sabotaged toys, but I still smile to think of Joe saying, ‘math is hard,’ and Barbie yelling, ‘eat lead, Cobra!’ 

    • #48
  19. Jack Dunphy Member
    Jack Dunphy
    @JackDunphy

    I donate platelets and plasma about once a month.  When I donated on Sunday I got the “Please verify your gender” thing for the first time.  The nurse seemed embarrassed to ask, but that’s where we are now.  The hospital in my area gets its blood from the Red Cross,  so I have no alternative place to donate.  It takes about two hours with needles in both arms; a bit uncomfortable keeping my arms still the whole time.  But it’s the only time I get to watch a movie the whole way through.  And the bottom line is that there are people who need it.

    • #49
  20. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    It just occurred to me that the way to stop this is to say, “Well, let’s see!” Then stand up and start to unzip your pants. If that happened enough times, I think this would stop. The best way to fight nonsense is with bigger nonsense.

    • #50
  21. aardo vozz Member
    aardo vozz
    @aardovozz

    This one is not for the faint of heart:

    Red Cross Volunteer: “How do you self-identify?”

    Donor: “I am the Angel of the Bottomless Pit,”

                  “The Wrath of the Lamb,”

                   “The Fool for Christ,”

                   “And the Paraclete of Caborca!”

    At this point, they might not want your blood. But on the bright side, just think of the expedited access you’ll have to Mental Health Services.

    (Brownie points to anyone who knows which movie I stole this from-without using google, Wikipedia, or IMDB🙂)         

    • #51
  22. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Arahant (View Comment):

    It just occurred to me that the way to stop this is to say, “Well, let’s see!” Then stand up and start to unzip your pants. If that happened enough times, I think this would stop. The best way to fight nonsense is with bigger nonsense.

    My nonsense is bigger than yours. 

    • #52
  23. Fred Houstan Member
    Fred Houstan
    @FredHoustan

    Arahant (View Comment):
    It just occurred to me that the way to stop this is to say, “Well, let’s see!” Then stand up and start to unzip your pants. If that happened enough times, I think this would stop. The best way to fight nonsense is with bigger nonsense.

    On the one hand, it’s crazy enough, it might just work.

    But then again, my optimism fades. The crowd confused by apples and bananas are also confused by their very own groin, as is, apparently, the ARC, and, as is this lady.

    • #53
  24. TheRightNurse Member
    TheRightNurse
    @TheRightNurse

    Check with your local hospital.  Most of them have a department called “donor services” or somesuch.  They’re professionals and they use it directly.  No service fees or other immoral crap.

    • #54
  25. TheRightNurse Member
    TheRightNurse
    @TheRightNurse

    GLDIII (View Comment):
    I have been told the same by several of my nursing lady friends. I donate directly to the hospital, AAMC.

    And I’m glad you are not bending to the Evil Empire.

    • #55
  26. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    TBA (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    It just occurred to me that the way to stop this is to say, “Well, let’s see!” Then stand up and start to unzip your pants. If that happened enough times, I think this would stop. The best way to fight nonsense is with bigger nonsense.

    My nonsense is bigger than yours.

    I have become aware of that through several threads. Carry on. You’re doing a fine job.

    • #56
  27. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Stad (View Comment):

    If I self-identify as a “she”, does that mean I now have to have an annual gyn exam?

    I recently had a “transmale” patient.

    “He” had a classic UTI just like a woman.

    Who’d a thunk it?

     

    • #57
  28. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Fred Houstan (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):
    It just occurred to me that the way to stop this is to say, “Well, let’s see!” Then stand up and start to unzip your pants. If that happened enough times, I think this would stop. The best way to fight nonsense is with bigger nonsense.

    On the one hand, it’s crazy enough, it might just work.

    But then again, my optimism fades. The crowd confused by apples and bananas are also confused by their very own groin, as is, apparently, the ARC, and, as is this lady.

    • #58
  29. Fred Houstan Member
    Fred Houstan
    @FredHoustan

    I’ve contacted the ARC to let them know my concern. “We’re following FDA guidelines.” I see, show me the published guidelines, and they have:

    How do the recommendations apply to transgender individuals?

    The FDA’s recommendation to blood establishments is that in the context of the donor history questionnaire, male or female gender should be self-identified and self-reported for the purpose of blood donation.

    My head is spinning. I’m hoping I’m misreading this. People whom suffer gender dysphoria should “self-identify” their “gender.” Isn’t that like asking the escaped dementia patient where he was coming from?

    Please tell me I’m wrong.

    • #59
  30. Blondie Thatcher
    Blondie
    @Blondie

    Fred Houstan (View Comment):

    I’ve contacted the ARC to let them know my concern. “We’re following FDA guidelines.” I see, show me the published guidelines, and they have:

    How do the recommendations apply to transgender individuals?

    The FDA’s recommendation to blood establishments is that in the context of the donor history questionnaire, male or female gender should be self-identified and self-reported for the purpose of blood donation.

    My head is spinning. I’m hoping I’m misreading this. People whom suffer gender dysphoria should “self-identify” their “gender.” Isn’t that like asking the escaped dementia patient where he was coming from?

    Please tell me I’m wrong.

    Welcome to the wonderful world of modern healthcare.

    • #60
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