Blood donation ban on gay men to be (barely) lifted

[Technologic]

Gay men will soon be able to donate blood after ministers were advised to lift the current ban on any man who has had sex with another man during his lifetime.

Under current legislation, gay men who have had sex are banned from donating, although limited controls mean an estimated 7% of sexually active gay men still give blood.

But as outlined by The Sunday Times, new plans to be announced by Anne Milton, the public health minister, will allow gay men to donate blood - but only if they have not had sex for the past ten years.

SaBTO, the government advisory committee on the safety of blood, tissue and organs, warned if the ban were to be lifted completely, the risk of HIV infection would increase dramatically. Just over 40% of those infected with HIV in 2009 were gay men, according to The Sunday Times.

The current process for testing donated blood can determine whether the donor is HIV positive, but only after a certain period of time post-infection - meaning a small amount of donated blood could potentially be infected.

The ten-year deferral period, which will see Britain follow a similar policy to New Zealand, aims to rule out those who are unknowingly HIV positive from passing it on. Currently a quarter of those infected with HIV are unaware of their status.

The move has been seen as a step in the right direction by gay rights campaigners, who feel the current law is discriminatory.

A government source told The Sunday Times: “A complete ban is unfair and discriminatory but we need to protect public health, so the 10-year rule is what is being considered.”

http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory/...be-lifted.aspx

This will make NO difference, gay men will have to wait 10 years after having gay sex before they can donate so what's the point?

I've had a voluntary HIV test in the past 6 months and I don't have HIV. I'm open about the fact I have a boyfriend and have sex often but i use condoms but i still can't donate. Equality at its best!


Also on a side note, i can donate all my organs with no worries. Makes perfect sense.

[Tom]

Wow, is there really any point in lifting the bloody ban? "You've had sex you obviously have aids you can't donate blood" might as well just say that? >;/

[Technologic]

It's to get around equality laws probably

[Eoin247]

You'll find, i think , that this ban will be completely lifted in the years to come. A bit disapointing however that at this time these type of laws still exist.

[Cosmic]

The law seems very dated due to its attitude, but it's certainly a step in the right direction towards equality - even if it's not quite there yet.

[FlyingJesus]

Does HIV disappear after 10 years or something, first I've heard of this genius logic

[Aidenn]

Sorry but i aint waiting 10 years to give blood.

Can you just imagine it now, another man comes near you:

'NOPE SORRY, NO CAN DO, GOTTA WAIT 10 YRS'

People will look at you gone-out..

Wonder how long till the bans removed altogether, with NO limits.

[Technologic]

Sorry but i aint waiting 10 years to give blood.

Can you just imagine it now, another man comes near you:

'NOPE SORRY, NO CAN DO, GOTTA WAIT 10 YRS'

People will look at you gone-out..

Wonder how long till the bans removed altogether, with NO limits.

As long as the conservatives are in, never.

[HotelUser]

I don't even seen the point to not allowing them to in the first place.

[Eoin247]

I don't even seen the point to not allowing them to in the first place.

Well it was thought originally that HIV/AIDS was a "gay disease". Of course as we all know now this is nonsense, hetrosexual and homosexual people alike can get it. However that is probably why this law originally came into place.