Premium Content:

Brazil's Supreme Court overturns ban of gay men donating blood

Brazil’s Supreme Court has overturned a the country’s ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood. The ban had been imposed in the 1980’s at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis.

- Advertisement -

The move comes as more countries review the decades old restrictions on men who have sex with other men from donating blood.

Across the world there is now a significant difference between nations as some completely ban sexually active men from donating blood, while others like Australia impose long periods of abstinence from sexual activity before being eligible.

On Friday seven of the eleven Supreme Court Justices in Brasil voted in favour of removing the 12-month ban on sexual activity the country imposed on gay men donating blood. The justices declared the ban was unconstitutional as it discriminated against gay and bisexual men.

Supreme Court Minister Edson Fachin wrote in his decision on the issue that the law had been based on prejudice.

“Instead of the state enabling these people to promote good by donating blood, it unduly restricts solidarity based on prejudice and discrimination.” Fachin said.

In recent years the United States, Northern Ireland and Denmark have reduced the time gay men must abstain from sexual activity before donating blood to just 3 months. Australia currently requires gay and bisexual men to abstain from sexual activity for twelve months before being allowed to donate.

A recently published study showed that gay and bisexual men in Australia are eager to donate blood but few were willing to forgo sex for a whole year to be able to do so.  Advocacy organisation Just.equal have recently launched a campaign pushing state health ministers to sign off on a plan to reduce the waiting time to just three months.

OIP Staff


Love OUTinPerth Campaign

Help support the publication of OUTinPerth by contributing to our
GoFundMe campaign.

Latest

Living Proud’s Colin Longworth nominated for ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Award

The awards will be announced at a Gala ceremony this May.

A Madonna song has just surpassed a billion views on YouTube – can you guess which one?

It's maybe not the first song that comes to mind, or even the second, or third.

On This Gay Day | In 1982 the RSL stopped a wreath honouring gay service personnel

In 1982 RSL President Bruce Ruxton barred LGBTIQA+ service personnel being recognised.

German cardinal calls for next Pope to embrace Catholic teachings on homosexuality

Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller says an Orthodox leader must be the next Pope.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Living Proud’s Colin Longworth nominated for ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Award

The awards will be announced at a Gala ceremony this May.

A Madonna song has just surpassed a billion views on YouTube – can you guess which one?

It's maybe not the first song that comes to mind, or even the second, or third.

On This Gay Day | In 1982 the RSL stopped a wreath honouring gay service personnel

In 1982 RSL President Bruce Ruxton barred LGBTIQA+ service personnel being recognised.

German cardinal calls for next Pope to embrace Catholic teachings on homosexuality

Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller says an Orthodox leader must be the next Pope.

K-pop star Bain from Just B shares that he’s part of the LGBTIQA+ community

The singer of one of the few K-pop stars who has shared that they are gay.

Living Proud’s Colin Longworth nominated for ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Award

The awards will be announced at a Gala ceremony this May.

A Madonna song has just surpassed a billion views on YouTube – can you guess which one?

It's maybe not the first song that comes to mind, or even the second, or third.

On This Gay Day | In 1982 the RSL stopped a wreath honouring gay service personnel

In 1982 RSL President Bruce Ruxton barred LGBTIQA+ service personnel being recognised.