Actually, Black and White blood was gathered separately in the US until the second world war, and it raises an interesting point to look back on the ridiculousness of that decision. I am a blood donor, and as a lesbian I am not disqualified because in Canada any woman can give blood as long as they havent had sex with a man who has had sex with a man since 1977. Men can give blood if they havent had sex with men, and no one is permitted to give blood if they have used needles or slept with those who have. What is really interesting though is that it doesnt matter about condom use. The laws focus too much on identity and not enough on behavior. For example, I could have unprotected sex with a man and give blood, but if I had safe sex with a bisexual man, I would be banned. The fact is that safe sex with anyone, be they straight, bi or gay, is safer than unprotected sex with anyone and the blood banks should know this. There are plenty of younger gay men who have only ever had safe sex and only ever will because AIDS has always loomed in their lives. Their blood has nothing wrong with it and should be accepted. period.