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After her 16-year-old son committed suicide, an Iowa mother was outraged to learn that some of his organs had been rejected for donation because he was gay.
Alexander “AJ” Betts Jr. signed up to be an organ donor six months before he committed suicide, Newsy said.
According to the family, Betts Jr. was bullied for being gay, mixed race and having a cleft lip.
His mother, Sheryl Moore said that soon after his death she received a letter stating what had become of her son’s organs. His heart and other organs were able to save lives, but his eyes were rejected because he was gay.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says any donor at risk of having communicable diseases such as HIV can’t donate his or her eyes, along with other tissue. It specifically points to men having sex with other men, Newsy said.
Moore didn’t know if her son was sexually active so he was deemed ineligible.
Agencies/Canadajournal
