Blood stocks in the UK are critically low. You’re probably aware of this from countless adverts on the TV and radio asking for donations. Despite the risk that a blood shortage poses to patients, the NHS still refuses to allow donations from men who have had sex with men (MSM), or their partners. This amounts to a lifetime ban for the former and a 12 month ban for the latter, regardless of the precautions taken or the risk involved in their sexual activity. To give an example of the absurdity of this rule, a woman who has unprotected anal sex with a HIV positive man is banned for only twelve months, where as a man who has oral sex using protection with another man is banned for life. This policy is more than nonsensical, it is harmful and potentially deadly.
Our flyer is below – feel free to print it out and distribute it yourself, or email the Communications Officer here for information on how to get involved.
CU Stands Up Flyer
Many people are simply unaware of the blood ban – upon discovery they often assumed that the policy is in place for a good reason. Sadly, the facts don’t support the ban – in Italy and Spain the proportion of blood found to carry HIV actually dropped after the ban was revoked, which is hardly what would be expected if MSM’s blood was actually dangerous. Blood is tested twice already for STIs, and methods for detecting HIV have improved greatly in the last few years.
To find out where you can donate blood, please go to to the NHS Blood Service website.
We would like to thank Cllr Chris Ward of Liberal Democrats Against the Blood Ban for his support (though we note that CUSU LGBT has no political affiliations whatsoever).
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