Let Us Give spokesperson, Thomas Buxereau, said,
“From Monday this week the US joined Canada, Britain, the Netherlands, France and many other countries in allowing gay men, and bisexual men and trans women who have sex with men, to donate whole blood without the requirement that we are celibate for three months.”
“The new policy in all these countries is to assess all donors, gay and straight, cis and trans, for their individual risk.”
“We call on Australia’s blood authorities to follow the US and other countries by moving to individual risk assessment as quickly as possible.”
The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Service is advocating for gay men to give plasma but has not supported individuals risk assessment for whole blood.
Mr Buxereau said the plasma-only option is comparable to allowing civil unions but not marriage equality.
“When the plasma-only option was trialled in Canada, gay participants said they felt like second-class donors which is one of the reasons Canada abandoned plasma-only donation and moved to individual risk assessment for whole blood.”
Mr Buxereau said Let Us Give is actively seeking out gay, bi and trans Australians living in the United States who can give blood there but not in their country of origin.
“We aim to highlight the disparity not only between gay and straight donors, but between Australia and other comparable countries.”
If you are a gay, bisexual or transgender Australian expat who lives in the United States, Canada or the UK and who gives blood please contact Let Us Give via contact@letusgive.com.au
For a news report from the US: https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/fda-policy-allowing-gay-bisexual-men-donate-blood-goes-effect-rcna98234
For a copy of this statement on thr web, click here
For more information contact thomas Buxereau on 0415 896 884.
