WHO-TV, IA
03-04-07
ISU Students Plan Blood Drive Boycott
Sunday, March 4, 2007--A number of Iowa State University students plan to
boycott a blood drive this week in order to make a political statement. The
student groups are protesting federal rules that prevent some gay men from
donating blood.
Typically, Iowa State sororities and fraternities compete to see which chapter can
rack up the most donations during Greek Week. But that changed when a
fraternity for gay and bisexual men complained the federal rules would not allow
its members to compete.
The USDA says it bans men who have had sex with other men since 1977 from
giving blood because they are more likely to have AIDS than the rest of the
general public.