Donation not discrimination for gay and bisexual blood donors

Students from all over the UK will converge on blood donation centres in their town today (Thursday 2nd November) campaigning for the National Union of Students Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (NUS LGBT) day of action.

Students say that the current National Blood Service policy, which bans gay and bisexual men from giving blood for life, is archaic and they are calling for a review of the policy.

NUS LGBT campaign is one of the only campaigns nation wide that is lobbying on this issue and will be joined at the London protest by veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, representing Outrage!

NUS believes that the policy, which asks men whether they have ever had unprotected sex with another man, is homophobic. The policy effectively equates to a lifetime ban on donations from gay and bisexual men regardless of their current lifestyle and therefore the suitability of their blood.

The day of action will see students up and down the country encouraging friends, fellow students and passers-by to donate blood in place of the thousands of gay and bisexual men who can’t.

Scott Cuthbertson, NUS LGBT officer who is co-ordinating the event said

“Students across the UK are very angry about this discrimination. The questions asked at blood donation sessions mean that all gay and bisexual men are banned from giving blood for life, regardless of their behaviour, whilst high-risk heterosexual people slip through the net.

It is time that the National Blood Service changed its homophobic policy and lifts its ban on gay and bisexual men. Other countries have already changed their policies sending a clear message that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is unacceptable; it is time for NBS to do the same. The LGBT community is very diverse, and a blanket ban against all gay and bisexual men is no longer appropriate.”

He added

“NUS LGBT Priority Campaign this year is “Donation not discrimination”. The main tenet of this campaign is to ensure a review of the policy takes place, so that the behaviour of the individual is assessed rather than their membership of a group.”

Claire Anderson, NUS LGBT Officer, at the London protest, said:

“This policy is really frustrating because lots of healthy gay and bisexual students want to give blood but can't because of the ban. It’s not someone’s sexual identity that makes them high risk, but their sexual practices. Heterosexual people who engage in high-risk behaviour are not banned, but deferred for a limited time; a blanket ban perpetuates the myth that HIV/AIDS is a gay disease, and does not treat donors equally and on the basis of actual risk."

She added: "That's why we are here today encouraging our friends to donate in our place and talking to donors to raise awareness of the policy. Most people we have spoken to are really surprised that this kind of ban is still in place. We are calling for equal treatment for donors regardless of sexuality.”