The Let Us Give campaign has welcomed reports that the Isle of Man will lift its gay blood ban.

 

The BBC reports that the island will drop the ban and assess all individuals for their sexual risk, a policy that already prevails in the rest of the United Kingdom.

 

Let Us Give spokesperson, Thomas Buxereau, said,

 

"We welcome the change of focus in the Isle of Man, from excluding gay men, and bisexual men, trans women and some non-binary people who have sex with men, to assessing the risk of all donors regardless of the gender of their sexual partner."

 

"The new policy is fairer and it will open up a new source of safe blood to help those in need."

 

"We call on Australia's blood authorities to follow the lead of the Isle of Man and the UK more generally."

 

Blood donor reform in the Isle of Man comes after a call for the gay ban to be lifted by Manx actor and star of the popular Heatstopper TV series, Joe Locke.

 

In Australia, gay men, and bisexual men, trans women and some non-binary people who have sex with men, must abstain from sex for three months before givning blood.

 

For research recommending the UK policy:

https://www.letusgive.com.au/research