"I put forward the motion on behalf of the Tasmanian Rainbow Greens, because LGBTQIA+ people are not second-class citizens but the current blood donation scheme systemically makes us so."
"Personally, I have been humiliated by the current policy because I was instantly denied as a donor due to my personal life, even though I have donated previously. "
"Considering that Federal Labor accepted a motion earlier this year to remove these bans, it is critical that the Greens, both state and federally, continue to pressure Labor Governments and Ministers, to remove these bans, and to ensure true blood donation equality."
Let Us Give campaign spokesperson, Rodney Croome, welcomed the Tasmanian Greens' support for a more equitable blood donor policy.
"There are no longer any medical or scientific reasons for a policy that insists LGBTIQA+ people are sexually abstinent before giving blood and allows all heterosexuals through without any risk assessment."
"Individual risk assessment for all donors, regardless of the gender of their sexual partner, is the path forward for Australia, just as it has been for comparable countries like the UK and Canada."
"I welcome the Greens' continued advocacy for a blood donor system that is safe and more equitable."
A copy of the motion is below. Earlier this week the Queensland Health Minister, Shannon Fentiman, wrote to her Federal counterpart asking for the current ban to be lifted and replaced by individual risk assessment for all donors.
That followed support for lifting the gay blood ban at the Labor Party National Conference last month.
Let Us Give has welcomed both developments.
For a copy of this statement on the web, click here
For more information contact Trenton Hoare on 0427 886 450 or Rodney croome on 0409 010 668.
Blood donation reform
That State Conference:
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Notes the existing discriminatory ban on donation of whole blood products by gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men which also extends to transgender and non-binary people who have sex with men.
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Reaffirms its support for removal of the existing restrictions on blood donations by these individuals, in accordance with point 23 of the Australian Greens Health policy, and supports the introduction of individual risk assessment as enacted in other jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Israel.
Moved by the Tasmanian Rainbow Greens.
