The “Let Us Give” campaign has welcomed a change in Australian blood donation policy that now allows gay, bisexual and transgender people to donate plasma without a waiting period. The new rules also apply to people taking the HIV prevention medication PrEP.
While welcoming the change, the campaign noted that outdated and discriminatory rules for whole blood donation still need to be changed.
Media Release – Let Us Give, 14 July 2025
Gay, bi and trans Australians urged to donate plasma, but concerns remain over whole blood donation reform
The Let Us Give campaign has urged gay, bisexual and transgender Australians to donate plasma, but says more work is required to ensure best practice-screening in whole blood donation.
The changes that come into effect today allow gay and bi men, transgender women, and anyone taking HIV prevention medication PrEP, to donate plasma without a wait period if they meet all other eligibility criteria.
Let Us Give spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,
“We welcome the fact that from today gay men, and bisexual men and transgender women who have sex with men, as well as anyone on PrEP, will be able to donate plasma without any wait periods required.”
“We urge all those who newly-able to donate plasma to take the time to help others in need.”
“But the outdated and discriminatory rules for whole blood donation are still to be changed.”
“Let Us Give has been advocating for a new whole-blood donation policy that focuses on the safety of a donor’s sexual activity rather than the gender of their sexual partner.”
“This will open up a new source of safe blood for those in need and remove discrimination from Australia’s blood collection system.”
“This reform has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, but the proposed questions are confusing and are not best practice.”
“We will continue to work with Lifeblood to ensure the questions whole blood donors are asked reflect best practice in countries like the UK and Canada.”
Lifeblood has said the reform to whole blood donor screening questions is likely to come into effect next year.
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