BELFAST, May 8, 2008  –  Students from campuses throughout Northern Ireland are campaigning today for the National Union of Students – Union of Students in Ireland Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (NUS-USI LGBT) day of action over the ‘gay blood donation ban’.

Hundreds of students are joining the campaign to argue that the current UK National Blood Service’s policy, which bans gay and bisexual men from giving blood for life, is outdated.  They are united in calling for a review of the policy.

The day of action sees Northern Ireland students encouraging friends, fellow students and passers-by to donate blood in place of the thousands of gay and bisexual men who can’t.

“It’s really frustrating because lots of gay and bisexual students want to give blood but can’t because of the ban,” said Katie Morgan, president of NUS-USI.

“The criteria for blood donors, as set out by the National Blood Service, excludes all gay and bisexual men from giving blood, regardless of their behaviour, whilst high-risk heterosexual people slip through the net.

“Students throughout Northern Ireland are very angry about this discrimination,” she said.

“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.

“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.

“NUS-USI LGBT priority campaign this year is “Donation not discrimination”.

“The main aim of this campaign is to ensure a review of the policy takes place, so that it is solely the behaviour of the individual that is assessed,” she concluded.

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Posted: 8 May 2008 at 14:00 (UK time)