And we want to ensure that our blood supply is safe and sufficient."ĪBC News' Tony Morrison contributed to this report. "We want people to be engaged in safe sex practices. Canada said on Thursday it is lifting a ban on blood donations from sexually active men who have sex with men, first imposed decades ago, as part of an effort to create a 'more inclusive' system. doesn't encourage safe sexual behaviors in the integrity of the population," Warbelow, from HRC, said. "Donors who are excluded solely on their membership in a group. Here are the rules governing blood donation by gay and bi men around the world: - Countries that impose lifelong bans on gay and bisexual men donating blood include Croatia, Iceland, Malaysia. The organization says that "a lack of blood and platelet donations are critically needed to help prevent further delays in vital medical treatments." However, according to the organization, doctors are now being forced to decide which patients receive blood transfusions and who is forced to wait due to the shortage. "We believe blood donation eligibility should not be determined by methods that are based upon sexual orientation and we’re committed to achieving this goal," the American Red Cross said in a statement to ABC News. The America Red Cross said that there is no clear data that would suggest that changing this blood donation policy would significantly increase the number of blood donations, but the organization says it does not intend to discriminate against the LGBTQ community. This is the first time INOVA has had a mobile blood drive since the rise of COVID-19 cases in the D.C.
From Monday, gay men in sexually active, monogamous relationships can donate for the first time. In addition to the United States, several other countries still have lifetime bans against gay blood donors in place, including France, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, and Denmark. A man squeezes a ball as he donates blood in an INOVA Hospitals Bloodmobile in Washington, D.C., July 21, 2020. Until now men who have sex with men had to wait three months before donating.