Blood Donations From Gay Men

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the guidelines imposing a blanket restriction on transgender persons, female sex workers, and gay men from donating blood.

The Supreme Court today sought a response from the government on a plea challenging the guidelines that exclude transgenders, gay and sex workers from donating blood.

Gabriel Delabays sat calmly, his feet elevated on a reclining chair, as a nurse drew blood from his left arm at a Swiss transfusion centre today, the first day gay men in the country could give blood without extra restrictions.

Canada on Monday loosened requirements for gay men who want to donate blood, reducing the compulsory period of sexual abstinence from five years to one year.

Social network giant Twitter has banned onsite blood drives in its offices worldwide where regulations do not permit blood donations from gay or bisexual men, a move that LGBT-rights advocates say is a first for a public technology company.

Federal health officials are recommending an end to the nation's lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, a 31-year-old policy that many medical groups and gay activists say is no longer justified.

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the guidelines imposing a blanket restriction on transgender persons, female sex workers, and gay men from donating blood.

The Supreme Court today sought a response from the government on a plea challenging the guidelines that exclude transgenders, gay and sex workers from donating blood.

Gabriel Delabays sat calmly, his feet elevated on a reclining chair, as a nurse drew blood from his left arm at a Swiss transfusion centre today, the first day gay men in the country could give blood without extra restrictions.

Canada on Monday loosened requirements for gay men who want to donate blood, reducing the compulsory period of sexual abstinence from five years to one year.

Social network giant Twitter has banned onsite blood drives in its offices worldwide where regulations do not permit blood donations from gay or bisexual men, a move that LGBT-rights advocates say is a first for a public technology company.

Federal health officials are recommending an end to the nation's lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, a 31-year-old policy that many medical groups and gay activists say is no longer justified.