Tassie case hits UK press

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbians Rights Group

Citing evidence from an anti-discrimination case initiated by Launceston electronics technician, Michael Cain, a senior columnist for leading UK daily, The Independent, has claimed that people in need of blood are dying because safe gay men cannot donate.

Media Release
Monday October 13th, 2008

TASSIE GAY BLOOD DONOR CASE HITS UK PRESS

A Tasmanian man’s ground-breaking bid to allow gay men who have safe sex to donate blood has hit the headlines in Britain.

Citing evidence from an anti-discrimination case initiated by Launceston electronics technician, Michael Cain, a senior columnist for leading UK daily, The Independent, has claimed that people in need of blood are dying because safe gay men cannot donate.

The columnist, Johan Hari, who was named Amnesty International Journalist of the Year in 2007, asks why safe gay men are barred from donating while “our blood banks are running low”, and calls for an end to this “bloody homophobia”.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that Mr Hari’s column reflects global interest in the Tasmanian case.

“Nowhere else has the gay blood ban been subject to such intense scrutiny as in Tasmania, and around the world people are watching to see what the outcome will be.”

TASMANIAN GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS GROUP

For a copy of the column visit, Here