#BloodForAll - End the 12 month MSM blood donor ban in Ireland
#BloodForAll - End the 12 month MSM blood donor ban in Ireland
The Issue
In June of 2021, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service began plans to import 115 units of O negative, A negative and B negative blood from the NHS Blood and Transport service in Manchester to cope with a shortage of these blood types due to the combination of the summer and easing of public health restrictions.
This is the first time that blood has been imported from the UK since the 1990’s. The Irish Blood Service is clearly under an immense deal of pressure. Human lives hang in the balance. And yet the service still discriminates heavily against MSM (Men who have Sex with Men), despite several victories over the years. The IBTS restricts MSM donating blood if they have engaged in anal or oral sex with another man in a twelve month period.
The MSM partners section of the blood ban means that theoretically, the female partner of a queer man could be banned indefinitely, while the man would only be banned for 12 months after their last sexual contact with another man.
The bans enforced by Blood Transfusion Services all around the world against MSM are rooted in discriminatory healthcare policies following a rise in HIV and hepatitis B cases in the 1970s and 1980s in MSM patients. Once it was realised that these conditions could be passed on through blood, it was crucial that those who were most at risk of contracting the viruses, including gay and bisexual men, were not able to pass them on through blood donation since effective screening was not yet available.
Our medical technology has advanced since the 80s and the 90s, in a way where we can accurately detect HIV and Hep B in the blood-systems of those who intend to donate blood. We understand now in the 21st century that these two diseases don't just affect men who have sex with men and can affect anyone at any time. However, this archaic ban is still enforced.
We are calling on the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to:
- End the blood ban against MSM blood donors who use PrEP, are fully vaccinated against Hep B and/or practice safe sex
- Enforce equal restrictions (should they continue to exist) on all potential donors such as regular STI screening.
You can keep up to date with campaign news and posts on our social media :
www.instagram.com/blood4allireland
Email : Blood4Allireland@gmail.com
The Issue
In June of 2021, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service began plans to import 115 units of O negative, A negative and B negative blood from the NHS Blood and Transport service in Manchester to cope with a shortage of these blood types due to the combination of the summer and easing of public health restrictions.
This is the first time that blood has been imported from the UK since the 1990’s. The Irish Blood Service is clearly under an immense deal of pressure. Human lives hang in the balance. And yet the service still discriminates heavily against MSM (Men who have Sex with Men), despite several victories over the years. The IBTS restricts MSM donating blood if they have engaged in anal or oral sex with another man in a twelve month period.
The MSM partners section of the blood ban means that theoretically, the female partner of a queer man could be banned indefinitely, while the man would only be banned for 12 months after their last sexual contact with another man.
The bans enforced by Blood Transfusion Services all around the world against MSM are rooted in discriminatory healthcare policies following a rise in HIV and hepatitis B cases in the 1970s and 1980s in MSM patients. Once it was realised that these conditions could be passed on through blood, it was crucial that those who were most at risk of contracting the viruses, including gay and bisexual men, were not able to pass them on through blood donation since effective screening was not yet available.
Our medical technology has advanced since the 80s and the 90s, in a way where we can accurately detect HIV and Hep B in the blood-systems of those who intend to donate blood. We understand now in the 21st century that these two diseases don't just affect men who have sex with men and can affect anyone at any time. However, this archaic ban is still enforced.
We are calling on the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to:
- End the blood ban against MSM blood donors who use PrEP, are fully vaccinated against Hep B and/or practice safe sex
- Enforce equal restrictions (should they continue to exist) on all potential donors such as regular STI screening.
You can keep up to date with campaign news and posts on our social media :
www.instagram.com/blood4allireland
Email : Blood4Allireland@gmail.com
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Petition created on 2 July 2021