A man says his dead husband’s healthy organs were refused by a hospital’s organ donation program because of his sexual orientation.
Sean Reinert was the drummer for the band Cynic and Ex-Death. He was considered by many to be one of metal’s most influential queer icons. He died unexpectedly last month at the age of 48.
“My husband Sean was an organ donor,” Tom Reinert writes on Facebook. “He believed that when he passed on if his organs could go to someone in need that it would be a great thing. He was incredibly kind and giving in every way imaginable as many of his closest friends are well aware.”
Tom explains that he was initially contacted by the hospital’s organ donation program the night of Sean’s death. Speaking to a representative from the program, he was asked to a litany of questions about Sean.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
“After the first few standard questions she asked if Sean was a sexually active homosexual male,” Tom writes. “Without thinking I said ‘yes’ and almost without missing a beat she said ‘well, unfortunately that means….” and I went numb because I knew what she was about to say.”
The U.S. Public Health Service dictates that any male who has engaged in same-sex sexual contact in the past twelve months is considered at “increased risk” for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. And while organ donations from these men are not totally prohibited, they are evaluated on a unique case-by-case basis.
The official guidelines state:
Since the emergence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) has made recommendations to reduce the risk of HIV transmission associated with organ transplantation. Historically, recommendations included identifying risk factors among organ donors associated with HIV infection to minimize risk of potential transmission to recipients. … In 2013, based on donor-derived transmission events and reports of poor recipient outcome from hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) transmission, the PHS released a revised guideline. The 2013 Guideline added organ donor screening recommendations for HBV (hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and total antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc)) and HCV (antibody to hepatitis C (anti-HCV) and NAT), in addition to HIV, to reduce the risk of unintended transmission through transplantation.
“Sean did not have HIV, or any other STD’s for that matter,” Tom explains. “But because he was a gay man living in America in 2020 he was not allowed one of his final wishes of donating his organs to help save another person’s life.”
He continues, “The government would rather let people waiting for a transplant die than give them one of Seans organs. As his husband it makes me sick to my stomach and incredibly angry.”
My husband Sean was an organ donor. He believed that when he passed on if his organs could go to someone in need that it…
Posted by Sean Reinert on Monday, February 10, 2020
Related: FDA Decides You Shouldn’t Be Banned From Blood Donations For A Lifetime. Just A Year
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Pretty much should be up to the recipient….
Um, excuse me sir. We don’t wish to bother you considering the whole few weeks to live thingy and all. But would you rather have an organ donated by a healthy kind hearted healthy Gay man and potentially add decades to your life or would you prefer to die?
gaypalmsprings
Maybe they are afraid of spreading the gay gene. You’ve heard of the gay gene, right? It’s part of the gay agenda. Ask any Bible-thumping preacher.
gjg64
SHHHHHHHH! Don’t let them in on our secret!
alexpof
Public figure and beloved around the world with less than 6k followers?? c’mon
Den
Is that your major reaction to this article. You’re a sad little man aren’t you?
Some people actually have more than one Instagram account.
And some people with many fewer followers have actual friends all over the world.
Grow a brain! And maybe some empathy to go with it. C’mon.
1898
what the hell is wrong with you?
konstig
Sean Reinerd was one of the best drummers ever lived. My deepest condolences go out to Sean’s family and friends.
I was surprised that Sean’s passing was not covered by Queerty right away. And the hospital’s reaction just made it even sadder.
kc33
The American Red Cross has the same policy. We cannot donate blood if we have had sex with another man in the last twelve months. Even if the only sex is with a husband or monogamous partner in a long term relationship. Even if you both tested HIV negative repeatedly for years and provide copies of those tests. Heterosexual males who actively engage in unprotected recreational sex with multiple female partners are not even asked any questions related to sex before donating blood.
klaritykratom1
nice content !