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Students call for end to blood ban
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| Students protesting outside the blood donor unit in Bradford |
University of Bradford students have converged on the city's blood donor centre to call for donation not discrimination'.
The students, members of the University's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Society, say the current National Blood Service policy, which bans gay and bisexual men from giving blood for life, is archaic and should be reviewed.
Yesterday's protest was part of a campaign by the National Union of Students (NUS), which believes the policy of asking men if they have ever had unprotected sex with another man is homophobic.
The campaign, outside the blood donor centre in Rawson Road, saw students encouraging friends, fellow students and passers-by to donate blood in place of the district's gay and bisexual men.
Student Josh Bradley, 19, was one of those protesting. He said: "We had a really successful day and handed out about 150 leaflets.
"We got eight people to give blood for us, seven of whom were first time donors. We have also managed to collect 72 signatures on our petition campaigning for an end to the ban."
Josh said the policy was homophobic because it did not take into account whether sex was protected or how long ago sexual activity took place.
"This gives a somewhat contradictory message about the use of condoms in sexual acts," he said. "If sex is safe and consensual, the argument is it should be considered low risk, no matter the genders of the people involved.
"A man who experimented safely with same-sex relationships 20 years ago would be banned from giving blood, whilst a promiscuous heterosexual man would be free to give blood."
A spokesman for the National Blood Service said it had a duty to ensure a supply of safe blood.
"This includes a clear responsibility to minimise the risk of a blood transfusion transmitting an infection to patients," she said.
"In order to assure the continued safety of the blood supply, we currently ask those in groups shown to have a high risk of carrying blood-borne viruses not to give blood.
"Men who have sex with men continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV and account for 63 per cent of HIV diagnoses where the infection was likely to have been acquired in the UK.
"The reason for this exclusion rests on specific sexual behaviour rather than sexuality. There is no exclusion of gay men who have never had sex with a man nor of women who have sex with women."
To find out more about who can give blood visit blood.co.uk.
e-mail: claire.lomax
@telegraphandargus.co.uk
5:21am Friday 9th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: sajenkin, Odsal on 11:11am Fri 9 May 08
I can see the argument that the real issue is promiscuity and the practicing of safe sex, but the stats do demonstrate that gay/bisexual men are more likely to have HIV than straight men. Short of testing every donor, I thnk that this is a reasonable approach. Surely there are much bigger issues surrounding homophobia than this - there is clearly no intent to be homophobic, merely a desire to keep blood safe through a practical approach.
I can see the argument that the real issue is promiscuity and the practicing of safe sex, but the stats do demonstrate that gay/bisexual men are more likely to have HIV than straight men. Short of testing every donor, I thnk that this is a reasonable approach. Surely there are much bigger issues surrounding homophobia than this - there is clearly no intent to be homophobic, merely a desire to keep blood safe through a practical approach.
Posted by: albion, west riding on 11:27am Fri 9 May 08
The national blood service should be allowed to run things how it feels fit, it does a great job and deserves peoples applause, rather than hindrance like this.
The national blood service should be allowed to run things how it feels fit, it does a great job and deserves peoples applause, rather than hindrance like this.
Posted by: Say it as it is, A country going down the pan on 11:43am Fri 9 May 08
As above Gay men are more likely to carry HIV than non gay men. So the policy makes perfect sense.
As above Gay men are more likely to carry HIV than non gay men. So the policy makes perfect sense.
Posted by: jesse, bradford on 7:51pm Fri 9 May 08
Hi, I was at the protest, and I must say that the accusation that we were a 'hindrance' is false. We brought along [bold]8 donors[/bold] , and told people where the blood centre was, which most people had no clue about.
I'd also like to point out that every blood product is [bold]screened[/bold] by the NBS for blood borne viruses, including HIV.
Hi, I was at the protest, and I must say that the accusation that we were a 'hindrance' is false. We brought along
8 donors , and told people where the blood centre was, which most people had no clue about.
I'd also like to point out that every blood product is
screened by the NBS for blood borne viruses, including HIV.
Posted by: mrs walker, round here on 11:18pm Sat 10 May 08
Gay men are more likely to be tested for HIV than straight men but the incidence of HIV is increasing faster in the heterosexual community now than in the gay community.
Gay men are more likely to be tested for HIV than straight men but the incidence of HIV is increasing faster in the heterosexual community now than in the gay community.
Posted by: Carol, New York, USA. on 3:35am Sun 11 May 08
it is crazy how heterosexuals say that we are weird and odd and that the reason why H.I.V. is spreading is because of us. they even say that homosexuals give off H.I.V. all of the time. But in fact heterosexuals (straight people) have the highest rate of H.I.V. causes than any other sexuality. (that is a real fact) and they call us extremely promiscuous how ironic is that.
bi,gay,lesbian *** FindBilover dotcom ***
it is crazy how heterosexuals say that we are weird and odd and that the reason why H.I.V. is spreading is because of us. they even say that homosexuals give off H.I.V. all of the time. But in fact heterosexuals (straight people) have the highest rate of H.I.V. causes than any other sexuality. (that is a real fact) and they call us extremely promiscuous how ironic is that.
bi,gay,lesbian *** FindBilover dotcom ***
Posted by: albion, west riding on 6:34am Sun 11 May 08
[quote][bold]mrs walker[/bold] wrote:
Gay men are more likely to be tested for HIV than straight men but the incidence of HIV is increasing faster in the heterosexual community now than in the gay community.[/quote] OK keep it seperate, and you can have it.
mrs walker wrote:
Gay men are more likely to be tested for HIV than straight men but the incidence of HIV is increasing faster in the heterosexual community now than in the gay community.
OK keep it seperate, and you can have it.
Posted by: emiel, bradford on 2:53pm Tue 13 May 08
just because there is i higher chance of a gay bi man contracting the hiv virus dosent mean that we all have it in fact the rate of infection in the hetrosexual cominaty is incresing due to incresed awerness in the gay comunity,
the thing that bothers me is that a hetrosexual can have a differant sexual partner every night and not be baned but a homosexual or hetrosexual who only did somthing once is baned for life, this should not be a problem because they test all the blood first so why should we be banned? this is homophobia no-matter how subtle or insignificant, yes there are other issues that need to be delt with but this needs addressing too and the sooner the better
they want blood due to a shotage then tell us were not alowd
just because there is i higher chance of a gay bi man contracting the hiv virus dosent mean that we all have it in fact the rate of infection in the hetrosexual cominaty is incresing due to incresed awerness in the gay comunity,
the thing that bothers me is that a hetrosexual can have a differant sexual partner every night and not be baned but a homosexual or hetrosexual who only did somthing once is baned for life, this should not be a problem because they test all the blood first so why should we be banned? this is homophobia no-matter how subtle or insignificant, yes there are other issues that need to be delt with but this needs addressing too and the sooner the better
they want blood due to a shotage then tell us were not alowd
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