The Department of Health and Social Care has announced new changes to blood donation criteria in England, meaning that from next year, men who have had one male sexual partner in the last three months will be able to donate blood. This means most men in a long-term relationship with another man will now be able to donate. LGBT Humanists has welcomed this change, which will remove a barrier to donating that was not medically justified, and that perpetuated prejudiced views towards LGBT people.
The change moves from the previous policy whereby men would have to not have sex with other men for three months to be able to donate blood. Further, the UK Government stipulates under the new selection process, all donors will complete relevant health checks before donating blood, regardless of their gender or sexuality, acknowledging ‘all donors, including heterosexual men and women, have potential to carry infections.’ Therefore there will be no impact on the safety of blood donated in the UK. The changes will be implemented by Summer 2021.
LGBT Humanists Committee Member Jennifer Bartle commented, ‘We are pleased to see the Government taking this positive step towards LGBT equality in a vital area of public health. This change will enable more people to save lives by donating blood. We hope that it will help dispel the prejudicial attitudes towards LGBT blood donors and that the Government is able to build on it to enable even more people to give blood in the future.’
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For further comment or information, please contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 7324 3072 or 020 3675 0959.
Read the UK Government announcement.
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LGBT Humanists is a part of Humanists UK. Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by 100,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.