TL;DR
- 7.5% of male donors now identify as GBTQ+
- Blood donation rules became more inclusive in 2021
- Survey shows significant increase in donations
- Former health secretary praised the changes
- New donors celebrated for their contributions.
Hold onto your hats, folks! The tides are turning in the blood donation game, and it’s about time! A recent survey has revealed that a whopping 7.5% of male blood donors in England now identify as bisexual, gay, pansexual, queer, bicurious, or sexually fluid. That’s a massive jump from just 1.8% back in 2014. Talk about progress!
This surge in donations comes on the heels of updated eligibility criteria introduced in 2021, which aimed to make blood donation rules more inclusive across England, Scotland, and Wales. Former health and social care secretary Matt Hancock, who announced these changes, stated, “This landmark change to blood donation is safe and it will allow many more people, who have previously been excluded by donor selection criteria, to take the opportunity to help save lives.”
And let’s be real, it’s about time we recognized individuals for their actions rather than their sexual preferences. The outdated ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood was a relic of the past, rooted in fear during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. The UK lifted this ban in 2011, but it wasn’t until 2017 that the waiting period for men who have sex with men was reduced from a full year to just three months. Now, thanks to these recent changes, the floodgates have opened!
Su Brailsford, chair of the For the Assessment of Individualised Risk (FAIR), couldn’t be more thrilled about the increase in donations. “It’s very encouraging to see new donors coming to our centres and we try and make them very welcome,” she said. And who wouldn’t want to be welcomed with open arms while saving lives?
Take Thomas Yates, a gymnastics coach from Greater Manchester, who was finally able to donate blood in 2021 after years of feeling marginalized. “I went to donate in 2018 knowing I wasn’t able,” he shared. “Even though I was tested and had no infections, morally I couldn’t go through with it. I was left incredibly upset.” But when the rules changed, he jumped at the chance and has since donated 16 times! “I was elated and overjoyed,” he said.
So, if you’re in the UK and feeling inspired by this surge of inclusivity, why not roll up your sleeve and donate? You can register online at NHS Blood Donation or via the NHS Give Blood app. Let’s keep this momentum going and show that GBTQ+ individuals are here to make a difference, one donation at a time!