Australia lifts blood donation ban for gay, bis3xual men and trans women

Gay and bis3xual men, as well as transgender women, will soon be eligible to donate blood and plasma in Australia under new rules aimed at making the donation process more inclusive.

Lifeblood, the country’s national blood and plasma donation service, announced it will lift most sexual activity-related deferrals for plasma donors starting 14 July. The changes are part of what officials have called a world-leading “plasma pathway,” allowing more people, including those who use HIV-preventative medication like PrEP, to donate if they meet all other eligibility requirements.

Previously, individuals in these groups were barred from donating plasma if they had sex with men in the past three months, a policy originally designed to reduce the risk of HIV transmission. This restriction also applied to s3x workers and women who had s3x with bis3xual men.

Dr. Jo Pink, Lifeblood’s chief medical officer, said the shift could lead to a significant increase in plasma supply. “With more than 600,000 people estimated to be covered by the previous wait times, we now anticipate an extra 24,000 donors and 95,000 extra donations of plasma to be made each year,” she said.

Plasma is the donation type currently in highest demand across the country.

The organization also confirmed that broader changes are underway for blood and platelet donations. Following approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the new guidelines will remove gender-specific questions, instead asking all donors about their s3xual activity in a uniform way.

Under the updated rules, most people in long-term, monogamous relationships will be eligible to donate blood. Those with new or multiple partners will also be eligible, provided they have not had anal sex in the past three months, a change that ends the longstanding question directed at male donors about s3x with other men.

“This is a significant milestone in being able to safely reduce wait times and make it easier for more people in the LGBTQIA+ community to donate,” said Dr. Pink. “While safety is and always will be our top priority, we know the current donation rules have been very difficult for many people in the LGBTQIA+ community. They’ve contributed to stigma, and it’s time for change.”

Dash Heath-Paynter, CEO of Health Equity Matters, welcomed the announcement as a major breakthrough. “Members of the LGBTQIA+ community can now help those whose lives depend on plasma donations, without a donation deferral period,” he said. “These changes make Australia’s regulations among the most progressive in the world.”