rules, set to come into force in summer 2021, anybody attending to donate blood will be assessed against the same criteria, regardless of sexual orientation or gender.
The most significant change is that anyone who has had the same sexual partner for more than three months will be eligible to donate, providing that there is no known exposure to a sexually transmitted infection or the use of HIV-infection-preventing drugs . This means that gay and bisexual men in long-term relationships will now be able to donate blood without having to abstain from sex for three months, a blanket requirement of the previous rules.
The NHS Blood and Transplant service said the new rules, which are the outcome of a two year study, are “a fairer way to maintain blood safety.” In addition to the lifting of blanket bans, the service says donors will be making donation more inclusive and gender neutral, with donors “no longer be asked to declare if they have had sex with another man.” Blanket bans on gay and bisexual men donating blood emerged globally in the wake of the 1980s HIV/AIDS crisis, which devastated the LGBT+ community.
whendeebadbird About time!
Now the AIDS pandemic is comming.
Watch the rise of gays
There were good reasons for the ban. Long overdue for it to be lifted.
Fucking rightfully so. I have just learned about this ban's existence in my country and I couldn't believe it was real. Absolutely appalling.
Wow we love emotional growth, we stan