More gay and bisexual men in Wales are now able to donate blood after new rule change
More gay and bisexual men in Wales are now able to donate platelets, blood and and plasma after new rules arrived to affect now.
Entering affect on World Blood Donor Day (14 June), the new rules imply that donors in Wales, England and Scotland will no longer be asked if they're a man that has had sex with another man.
Instead, potential donors no matter gender is going to be asked about their recent sexual behaviours. Those who have had exactly the same sexual partner within the last 3 months will be eligible to donate, meaning more gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships can donate blood safely.
The new changes follow an evidence based review by FAIR (For the Assessment of Individualised Risk) steering group which concluded that the change to an individualised and gender neutral approach is fairer and safe.
However, anyone who has had anal sex with a new partner or with multiple partners within the last 3 months won't be able to donate blood but "might be" eligible later on. Interestingly, potential donors who've recently taken the anti-HIV drug PrEP will not be permitted to donate.
“The rules coming into force are actually welcomed, there is however still a long way to get in achieving absolute equality," Arron Bevan-John from Blood Equality Wales said.
"One of the main things that we're taking a look at is blood screening in general, not just for gay and bisexual men but also for those using PrEP and sex workers.
“It's really important to determine it's much more about the people who needed to lie about who they really are and just what they're in order to donate blood.
“People have campaigned on this for many years, especially older LGBT+ people who survived the '80s AIDS pandemic and who recognise it has been a much harder battle we're able to only imagine."
Arron explained the way the many years of the inability to donate blood may lead to gay and bisexual men refusing to give because of the way they were treated previously.
“The emotional arc for it is quite condemning there is going to be people who are against it and can protest against it," he was quoted saying.
“I think you will see people who feel put off because of negative experiences. I was donating blood regularly until I had been a gay man and turning up and being turned away, I felt a mixture of emotions.
"I was really angry but also really ashamed. It is a complex view, for a lot of people giving blood is very trivial but the way I look at it you devote and pay into a time when you might need it.”
Met with mixed responses, many members of the LGBT+ community still feel unclear about whether they can or cannot donate blood whilst other medication is relived for that small victory.
"I called in the blood plan to ask about the guidelines for me, a bi transgender man dating a trans woman," Trans Aid Cymru founder Rudy Harries said.
"They'd no clue and couldn't even signpost me to someone who might. It's bananas, they don't have knowledge of anything about trans folks."
"Yes there's still a way to go, however this is progress and I hope people embrace it," Huw Cook from Fast Track Cardiff and Vale explained in a Tweet.
"I think we have to keep in mind that the folks relying on or even delivering blood donation services aren't those who set these rules. Let's do our bit if we can."
What do you consider about the relaxing from the blood donation rules, is it fair enough? Tell us within the comments
