Just Royal Oak Held a press conference at Shrine of the Little Flower Blood Bank Drive

Dr. Fadwa Gillanders, spokesperson for Just Royal Oak, to Held a Press Conference at Shrine of the Little Flower High School Blood Drive today, October 17 at 11am Shrine of the Little Flower is holding its annual Red Cross blood drive. In order to ensure clean, safe blood for the well-being of American men, women, and children the FDA has strict restrictions excluding those donors who engage in high-risk life styles, i.e. intravenous drug users. FDA policy includes “a lifetime deferral (ban) for men who have sex with other men,” in order to protect blood recipients from an increased risk of exposure to potentially infected blood. This is because a disproportionately high risk of HIV and hepatitis C and B—among many other infections—is associated with homosexual behavior. What does this have to do with Royal Oak's Proposal A? The consequences of similar laws have led to the banning of blood drives. For example, universities across the country that have adopted “human rights” policies similar to Proposal A have banned blood drives because the FDA policy “discriminates” against the LGBT community. This same banning of blood drives could happen in Royal Oak. If Proposal A passes, its requirement of non-discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation could easily result in complaints that would force blood banks to stop holding blood drives in the city limits of Royal Oak. Just Royal Oak, a grass-roots group of Royal Oak citizens, believes the FDA's obligation is—and must remain—to assure the safety of the blood supply and protect blood recipients from an increased risk of exposure to potentially infected blood. It is unconscionable that the Royal Oak City Commission, which passed this discriminatory ordinance, would place a deceptive and dangerous political agenda of increasing the protected rights of the LGBT community above the health and well-being of the men, women, and children in Royal Oak. This is just another reason why Royal Oak citizens need to vote AGAINST Proposal A Special Rights: to keep Royal Oak not only tolerant, diverse, and inclusive, but also safe and healthy.