Well, I dont know how many of you know this but a few months ago Canada altered the laws regarding who may donate organs, blood, tissue and bone marrow. Before if you are a man that has had sex with a man you could not donate blood, but only blood. I was a card carrying organ donor. Now homosexual and bi males can not donate any part of their body, at all. It downright pisses me off and I am passionate about this subject, but I do not really know what to do. I saw an opportunity the other day when I was listening to the CBC (the Canadian Broadcasting Cooperation, government sponsored objective radio and television network) and they began talking about a musician that needs a bone marrow donation to survive. I knew that I would love to register as a bone marrow donor, and like others I could simply lie to the Canadian Blood Agency and tell them I have not slept with another male, but I can not do that. I am not going to break the law just to donate. They dont want my blood, fine, but I dont want to be silent. So I wrote the following letter to the CBC:

Hello Shelagh Rogers,

I was listening to the show the other day and I heard the story of Oliver Schroer, the fiddler who is looking for a bone marrow transplant. This inspired me, I had a small epiphany. I can donate bone marrow, it should help someone to live a better and longer life. I have a desire, a want and an ability to donate bone marrow, but I have stumbled upon a small problem. I am homosexual. According to the new laws I am no longer allowed to donate any part of my body, even though I used to be an organ donor. I find this a really sad and upsetting fact. I am 23 years old and I have no family history of diabetes, heart problems or cancer. I am 5' 11" 190lbs. I am a great candidate to donate but because I have sex with other men I am not allowed to. I am what I consider to be responsible when it comes to my sex life. I use protection, I get tested regularly and I am not promiscuous. I have many straight friends that are far more promiscuous than I am and in a higher risk category than I, but they are allowed to donate simply because they are not a male that has sex with another male. I feel that I could be making a difference in someone else's life by registering to donate my bone marrow, or regularly donating my blood; I could even save someone's life if I die prematurely by donating my organs. Unfortunately my government is keeping me from helping to save the lives of my fellow Canadians in need by implementing their confusing policy.

If you know anything I can do to help change this or get this message out I would be eternally grateful. This is a topic I am passionate about and can talk on, but I don't even know what to do.

Sincerely

Asher


Hopefully they will reply with something. If not, thats ok. At least I said something. I will figure out what to do next when the opportunity knocks.