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U.K. to let sexually active gay and bisexual men donate blood in ‘landmark change’

The policy change comes after years of activism by the LGBTQ community along with a serious blood shortage in the U.K.
 
The United Kingdom will ease restrictions on blood donations from sexually active gay and bisexual men in what is being described as a “landmark change.”
The United Kingdom will ease restrictions on blood donations from sexually active gay and bisexual men in what is being described as a “landmark change.” [ MATT YORK | AP ]
Published Dec. 15, 2020

The United Kingdom will ease restrictions on blood donations from sexually active gay and bisexual men in what is being described as a “landmark change.”

The policy change comes after years of activism by the LGBTQ community along with a serious blood shortage in the U.K. amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, blood plasma donations from gay and bisexual men were not used in a coronavirus drug trial in the U.K.

The new criteria will focus on individual behaviors. Donors will be eligible if they have only had one sexual partner for the last three months. All donors, regardless of their or their partner’s gender, will be required to complete a new questionnaire to determine eligibility.

“This landmark change to blood donation is safe and it will allow many more people, who have previously been excluded by donor selection criteria, to take the opportunity to help save lives,” Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a statement.

The new criteria are expected to go into effect in England in summer 2021, but plans for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have not been revealed yet.

In the United States, gay and bisexual men must abstain from all sexual contact for three months before they can donate blood.

“The U.K. is seen as leading in this policy area,” Ethan Spibey, a blood donation advocate, told NBC News. “We genuinely believe this will impact thousands (in the U.K.) and millions around the world.”

Spibey said the next step will be working toward the government allowing those who use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication to donate blood, but more research on (PrEP) will be needed.

GLAAD applauded the move and voiced hope a similar policy would be enacted by the U.S. soon.

“The U.K. has taken a critical step in aligning their blood donation policy with science instead of stigma,” Mathew Lasky, GLAAD’s director of communications, said in a statement. “As the FDA continues to reconsider its blood donation policies here in the United States, the decision in the United Kingdom offers further proof that US blood donation policies for gay and bisexual men, and other LGBTQ people, are outdated, out of line with science, and must change to be based on individual assessments rather than discriminatory blanket bans.”

In summer 2020, the FDA said it was investigating the issue but has not offered any updates in the months since.