Arts & Entertainment
‘Game of Thrones’ blood drive criticized for discriminating against gay men
Participants can win a trip to the final season premiere
“Game of Thrones” and American Red Cross have teamed up for a national blood drive which includes special “Game of Thrones” prizes but some gay men are feeling left out because of the Food and Drug Administration guidelines.
The show’s “Bleed for the Throne” campaign gives fans a chance to donate blood in an “immersive experience” at SXSW in Austin, Texas, from March 7-9. Fans who can’t make it to SXSW can donate blood at specialty drives in 43 states until March 17.
Participants will receive a blood-splattered Iron Throne T-shirt and will be entered to win a chance to attend the show’s final season premiere on April 14 in New York City.
Donate blood for the good of the realm.#GameofThrones is teaming up with @RedCross to join the fight for the living. Visit https://t.co/5MbSh6Gdlt for more info. https://t.co/RneQng9dQf
— Game of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) February 19, 2019
However, federal blood-donation guidelines will prevent some gay men from participating in “Bleed for the Throne.” According to the Food and Drug Administration, men must abstain from sex with other men for 12 months before they are allowed to donate blood.
Joe Stanieich-Burke, 29, told the Daily Beast that this exclusion is “going widely unnoticed.”
“It bothers me that my perfect, healthy gay blood isn’t a viable option unless I abstain from sex for 12 months, and that’s not gonna happen,” Stanieich-Burke said. “I consider this a right for gay men that
One Twitter user tweeted: “While cool for GoT fans, a reminder that this whole initiative and contest discriminates against gay and bi men, who are still banned from donating blood for bigoted, discriminatory reasons.”
Another user tweeted: “Bold of Apple to give my gay ass an ad for blood donation.”
According to the Daily Beast, fans who aren’t eligible to donate blood can still participate in the contest by contacting the Red Cross Donor Supply Center. However, the Daily Beast notes that was not clearly stated in its public promotion of the contest.
A HBO spokesperson released a statement saying that there are other ways for fans who cannot donate blood to participate in sweepstakes and interact with the campaign.
“The ‘Bleed for the Throne’ campaign is and has always been open to everyone. Knowing that FDA regulations may prohibit blood donation by some, we have created multiple ways for fans to interact with the campaign, including entry to the activation at SXSW and the season 8 premiere sweepstakes. While the SXSW activation filled up quickly, a standby line will be available while the activation is open. Those unable to donate blood in national blood drives can still enter the sweepstakes by contacting the Red Cross Donor Support Center with a request to be entered, along with their name, mailing address and a valid email. Inclusivity is a key HBO value, and we have long been supporters of the LGBTQ+ community,” reads the statement.
Celebrity News
Madonna announces release date for new album
‘Confessions II’ marks return to the dance floor
Pop icon Madonna on Wednesday announced that her 15th studio album will be released on July 3.
Titled “Confessions II,” the new album is a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” an Abba and disco-infused hit.
The new album reunites Madonna with producer Stuart Price, who also helmed the original “Confessions” album. It’s her first album of new material since 2019’s “Madame X.”
“We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies,” Madonna said in a press release. “These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people,” continued the statement. “Sound, light, and vibration reshape our perceptions. Pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.”
Denali (@denalifoxx) of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performed at Pitchers DC on April 9 for the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show. Other performers included Cake Pop!, Brooke N Hymen, Stacy Monique-Max and Silver Ware Sidora.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
In an act of artistic defiance, Baltimore Center Stage stays focused on DEI
‘Maybe it’s a triple-down’
By LESLIE GRAY STREETER | I’m always tickled when people complain about artists “going political.” The inherent nature of art, of creation and free expression, is political. This becomes obvious when entire governments try to threaten it out of existence, like in 2025, when the brand-new presidential administration demanded organizations halt so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming or risk federal funding.
Baltimore Center Stage’s response? A resounding and hearty “Nah.” A year later, they’re still doubling down on diversity.
“Maybe it’s a triple-down,” said Ken-Matt Martin, the theater’s producing director, chuckling.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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