UK Gay Blood Ban Lifted

The lifelong ban on gay men donating blood has been officially lifted in Great Britain, numerous news sites reported. In its place is a requirement that men who have sex with men wait for one year after a same-sex encounter to donate blood.

For critics, the one-year wait period with no same-gender sex is as bad as the outright ban. But for others, the end of the ban is a step forward.

“We welcome this change, which is based on strong new evidence that all the experts are agreed on,” said Nick Partridge, the head of the Terrence Higgins Trust, an AIDS charity. “These regulations will ensure the safety of blood supply for all of us while also being fair and equal in their application.”  Read More