out for blood

Every time this comes up for review by the FDA, fear and prejudice trump demonstrably reliable science, and any gay person is prohibited from donating blood, no matter how healthy or monogamous or drug-free if he has had sex with another man since 1977. Last year's review came down to science versus politics, and politics won. (Adding insult to others' injury, the policy ignores risky behaviors of heterosexuals, so go ahead and share that needle before your Craig's List hookup.)

Canada, it appears, has the same problem, and the Canadian equivalent of the NIH has offered half a million in grant money to study the issue.  The problem?  No takers.

From The Chronicle of Higher Education: Languishing Grant Draws Claims of Academic Bias and Governmental Cowardice

The catch? According to the article: "They suggest this might be a case where government officials are afraid to make a politically sensitive decision and have set up researchers to take the blame."

Just something of note making it's way across the academic lists today. Thought I'd share.