HOBART, August 7, 2008  –  Gay activists have accused the Red Cross of scare tactics on the first day of a hearing into Australia’s gay blood ban, in Hobart today.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, described the Red Cross opening statement in defence of the current ban as a “statistical diatribe against gay men”.

“The Red Cross cited statistics about rates of HIV and other infections in the gay community which were misleading because the infections in question arise from unsafe sex, not gay sex, and because almost all these infections are increasing dramatically in other groups which aren't banned from blood donation”, Mr Croome said.

“It was particularly offensive and unprofessional for the Red Cross to assert that ‘monogamy is a myth’ in regard to men who have sex with men.

“Referring to the deaths of babies and haemophiliacs 25 years ago was simply a scare tactic, given that was a time before we knew how to detect and prevent HIV, and before modern screening processes were put in place,” he said.

Peter Tree SC, the lawyer for Michael Cain, the gay man challenging the ban before the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, highlighted the fact that risk of HIV infection is based on safety of sexual activity, not gender of sexual partner.

Mr Tree said it was “illogical and medically flawed” to ban all sexually-active gay men from donating blood.

“The appropriate screen ought be based on unsafe sexual activity,” he said.

Mr Tree also highlighted statistics showing the failure of the current screening process to eliminate all HIV positive blood donations, especially from heterosexual donors.

Mr Cain said he continues to be optimistic about his case and looks forward to hearing expert witnesses next week.

The hearing will continue on Tuesday at 10am with the cross examination of the first witness for Mr Cain, Dr Anne Mitchell.

SEE ALSO

HIV Infection From Gay Blood Donation Likely “Once Every 5769 Years”.  The Tribunal hearing a case against the Australian Red Cross gay blood ban has been told today that if the current bar on gay blood donation is lifted, a single HIV-positive blood donation from a gay man will slip through clinical screening in Tasmania once every 197 years.  (UK Gay News, August 15, 2008)

Bio-Ethicists Address Gay Blood Donor Hearings.  Two bio-ethicists today addressed the inquiry underway in Tasmania into gay blood donation. (UK Gay News, August 13, 2008)

Tasmanian ‘Gay Blood’ Inquiry Hears that Safe Sex Works.  An inquiry into the current ban on gay blood donation has heard that safe sex is effective in reducing HIV risk.  Social researcher, Associate Professor Anne Mitchell, today told the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal that risky sexual activity is not as widespread amongst gay and bisexual men as some studies suggest.  Full witness statementof Prof. Anne Mitchell. (UK Gay News, August 12, 2008)

Groundbreaking Gay Blood Ban Case Starts Thursday.  The first full hearing in a groundbreaking gay blood ban case begins in Hobart, Tasmania, on Thursday before the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal.  (UK Gay News, August 5, 2008)

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Posted: 7 August 2008 at 12:00 (UK time)