LONDON, February 25, 2008  –  A new group has been set-up to protest the ban on gay blood donors within the UK.  The group, Blood Ban, has today launched a website.

Yesterday, the Sprin Conference of the Welsh Liberal Democrats unanimously approved a resolution tabled by their youth group protesting the ban.

Even though it’s a well known fact that the UK is currently very low in its stocks of blood, which means the NHS is forced to spend taxpayers’ money on advertising and marketing in order to save lives, there are several million potential – and willing, Blood Ban points out – donors currently being ignored.

“If the NHS changed one simple rule, it could potentially have several million extra donors eligible to give blood – instantly and without any marketing costs, simply by allowing gay people to give blood,” the group says.

“This would allow several million more men to be eligible to give blood – and would further safeguard blood stock levels.”

Most people are unaware that a gay man is not allowed to give blood even if he has only ever had protected sex with one other man – however, a straight man who has had unprotected sex with dozens of women, is accepted.

Blood Ban has been set up to fight this double standard. 

The BloodBan.co.uk campaign has been founded to protest against the ban on gay blood donors within the UK.

“We just don’t see the sense in this hypocrisy that is being perpetrated,” commented Russell Hirst, founder of the campaign.

“So we’re asking people to visit our website and sign our petition – we will be sending it to the NHS National Blood Service chief executive and the Prime Minister later this year.

“The NHS National Blood Service has told us that its reasons for banning gay people from becoming blood donors come down to cost,” Mr.Hirst said.

“Their opinion is that blood from a gay person is more likely to be infected than blood from a straight person.  Therefore, they say, the costs of screening gay blood are too high.”

“However, the costs will surely be lower than running a national advertising campaign  And why are the costs of screening a straight person’s blood acceptable when sexually transmitted diseases among heterosexuals rise every year,” he asked?

“Further more, we believe that the opinions of the NHS regarding gay donors are out-dated and do not reflect current statistics”

The group thinks there is one simple solution which will both reduce the level of discrimination against gay people and limit the extra costs on the NHS.

“Allow gay people to give blood, but ask the donor to have key tests performed first – bringing the certificate of 'all clear' with them when giving blood,” Blood Ban is suggesting.

“It's not ideal and still discriminates, but it goes some way to solving the problem of low blood stocks – and ultimately, could save lives.”

Mr. Hirst said it would be far more preferable that the ban was dropped completely, dramatically increasing the number of potential donors, increasing blood stocks, stopping this discrimination and reducing the marketing spend.

SEE ALSO

Let Gay Men Give Blood, Say Welsh Lib Dem Youth.  Gay men in Wales should be allowed to give blood, the youth wing of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Party (Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru) are suggesting to the party’s conference this weekend.  They point out that because of the shortage of blood un the UK’s National Blood Service, the Welsh NHS is have to use blood imported from Australia where gay men are permitted to donate blood.  (UK Gay News, February 24, 2008)

European Commission Quizzed Further on Gay Blood Donation Bans, Gender Discrimination.   The bans on gays donating blood in several European Union countries is to be further questioned by the European Parliament’s Intergroup on gay and lesbian rights, it emerged today. (UK Gay News, January 24, 2007)

Lib-Dems Question Gay Blood Ban.   Health Minister Patricia Hewitt has been challenged by Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Women and Equality, Lorely Burt MP, over the continued complete ban on gay and bisexual men, and one-year ban on their straight or bisexual female partners, donating blood.  (UK Gay News, June 19, 2006)

Scottish Students Protest Gay Discrimination in Blood Transfusion Service.  Inequality in the Scottish blood transfusion service is being highlighted this week with a series of events being held by students across Scotland.  (March 7, 2006)

LINKS

website

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence.  

Posted: 25 February 2008 at 14:00 (UK time)