TASMANIAN GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS GROUP
Media Release
Monday April 12th 2010
RED CROSS GAY BLOOD BAN REVIEW WELCOMED
CAMPAIGNERS WARN REVIEW MUST BE “THOROUGH AND TRANSPARENT”
“I believe it’s unsafe sex, not gay sex, that poses a risk to the blood supply, and if all potential blood donors – gay and straight – are screened for the safety of their sexual activity the blood supply will be even safer than it is.”
– gay blood donation campaigner, Michael Cain
Australia’s leading campaigner for gay blood donation, Michael Cain, said he is “very pleased” at reports today the Red Cross will review its ban on gay blood donation, but Mr Cain and his supporters cautioned that the review must be “thorough and transparent”.
In today’s edition of gay community newspaper, SX News, a Red Cross spokesperson, Nick McGowan, said that the organisation will review its current policy of deferring all men who have sex with other men from blood donation.
The ban was challenged by Mr Cain before the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal in 2008. The Tribunal ultimately upheld the ban, but also agreed with Mr Cain that some gay men would be low risk donors, and supported a future review.
“I took my case because I believe it’s unsafe sex, not gay sex, that poses a risk to the blood supply, and that if all potential blood donors – gay and straight – are screened for the safety of their sexual activity the blood supply will be even safer than it is”, Mr Cain said.
“I’m very pleased the Red Cross is now taking this position seriously enough to conduct a review.”
“But the review must take into consideration all of the available evidence, and it must be conducted in a transparent fashion.”
The Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group (TGLRG), which supported Mr Cain’s case, agreed.
Spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said
“It became clear during hearings in Michael’s case that the Red Cross did not draw on the full range of available research and expertise when it adopted its current policy or when it was responding to Michael’s proposal.”
“The review must include crucial evidence submitted during Michael’s case, research that has emerged since Michael’s case ended, and possibly even a gay blood donation trial of the kind that was supported by some Red Cross witnesses.”
“Together with Michael Cain, the TGLRG will soon be making representations to the Red Cross, the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Parliamentary Liaison Committee on HIV/AIDS calling for a review that is as comprehensive and transparent as possible.”
Australia bars donation from men who have had sex with other men in the last twelve months. A review of the US ban (which applies to all male-to-male sex since 1977) is also being debated. For several years Spain and Italy have screened all blood donors for the safety of their sexual activity rather than the gender of their sexual partner, and the rate of HIV infection through blood transfusion has decreased.
For the SX News report visit,
http://sxnews.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/gay-blood-ban-under-review-007078.html
Rodney Croome
