HIV Researcher Says STIs No Basis for Gay Blood Ban

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HIV Researcher Says STIs No Basis for Gay Blood Ban

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HOBART, September 30, 2008 – HIV researcher, Prof John Kaldor, has agreed rates of sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV are not a basis upon which to ban gay men from blood donation.

The concession came during evidence from Prof. Kaldor to the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal hearing into gay blood donation which continued in Hobart today.

During his evidence, Prof Kaldor has also agree that gay oral sex is safe and that having a period of celibacy from gay anal sex that is longer than the current HIV-detection period of nine days is “conservative”.

However, Prof. Kaldor still maintains that gay anal sex is a high risk activity even when condoms are used.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that Prof Kaldor’s views on oral sex, celibacy periods and other STIs contradicts the Red Cross case that all gay sex is high risk and STIs in the gay community such as syphilis pose a considerable risk.

“Prof Kaldor has dented the Red Cross case, but we are very concerned by his view that gay anal sex with a condom is risker than straight sex without,” continued.

“The statistics he uses to back this up are taken from a highly unrepresentative study in which 55% of the sexual acts reported took place in gay saunas and another 36% at cruising areas or beats.”

Mr Croome added that he is pleased the Tribunal has asked Prof Kaldor to provide evidence of the risk of HIV transmission between monogamous male partners who always use condoms.

“We expect this will show a significantly lower risk of HIV transmission than for other male sex, and for quite a bit of heterosexual sex,” he suggested.

Witnesses for the Red Cross and for gay blood donation campaign, Michael Cain, will now have an opportunity to respond to Prof Kaldor.

These responses will not occur next week as flagged but in three to four weeks' time.

Professor Kaldor was giving evidence in a case taken by Launceston man, Michael Cain, who was refused the opportunity to give blood in 2003 when he admitted to blood collection officers that he was in a same-sex relationship.

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SEE ALSO

HIV Researcher Questions Blanket Gay Blood Ban, But Still Endorses It. In a mixed result for gay blood donation campaigners, a senior HIV researcher has labelled the current ban on gay blood donation as “conservative” but still endorsed it. (UK Gay News, September 29, 2008)

Gay Blood Ban Hearing: Questions for Gay Donors Would Take Too Long, Red Cross Claims. Questions necessary to establish if a potential gay blood donor is able to give blood would take too long, Dr Brenton Wylie, from the Australian Red Cross, told the anti-discrimination Tribunal today. (UK Gay News, August 20, 2008)

Gay Blood Ban Hearing: Red Cross Ignores Concerns from Experts and AMA. The Australian Red Cross has ignored the expert opinion of its chief medical advisor on low risk sexual activity between men, it was claimed today. (UK Gay News, August 19, 2008)

Gay Blood Ban Hearing: Screen Donors for Risky Sex, Not Partner’s Gender – Aids Expert. An Australian Aids expert has told the Tasmanian inquiry into the gay blood ban that it is time for donors to be screened for risky sexual activity, not their partner’s gender. (UK Gay News, August 18, 2008)

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 statement of Prof. Anne Mitchell. (UK Gay News, August 12, 2008)

Gay Blood Ban Hearing: Red Cross Accused of “Scare Tactics”. 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. (UK Gay News, August 7, 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: 30 September 2008 at 13:00 (UK time)