Blood donations transcend gender, political affiliation, celebrity, status, and religion. It's interesting. People may be giving or receiving blood from those they might not even want to shake hands with. And my renewed appreciation is sending me to the nearest blood donation center.

A heterosexual person who has sex with an HIV-positive partner is eligible to donate blood after only 12 months. Yet all gay and bisexual men, even those who are HIV-negative, practice safe sex, or in monogamous relationships, are permanently banned.