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How is it fair that a gay man with one sexual partner is banned, while a heterosexual man can have 300 sexual partners and isn’t banned?
It’s important to look at how statistical modelling is done. A straight man with 300 sexual partners would be a statistical anomaly. The projections are based on research about what happens across populations and the truth still is that men who have sex with men are far more likely to contract HIV during the course of their regular sex life than men who have sex with women, or women who have sex with men.
Anomalies do exist but it is still reasonable to run statistical projections and assessments of risk based on general epidemiological data rather than individual cases when looking at the integrity of the blood supply. It’s these assessments which determine what questions the Blood Service asks of people seeking to make a donation.
Frequently asked questions
- Isn’t it discrimination to ban gay men from giving blood?
- But HIV isn’t a ‘gay disease’ anymore, is it?
- But aren’t more heterosexual people diagnosed each year with HIV in the UK than gay men?
- What evidence is there that if MSM were allowed to give blood, the risk of HIV being passed on would increase?
- How is it fair that a gay man with one sexual partner is banned, while a heterosexual man can have 300 sexual partners and isn’t banned?
- But aren’t these statistical models based on ‘assumptions’ about what men who have sex with men actually do?
- Shouldn’t people be allowed to assess their own risk when they answer questions before giving blood?
- Aren’t the regulations a blunt instrument? Couldn’t they be refined to increase the number of people who could donate?
- Can’t they test the blood before passing it on?
- Other countries have changed their regulations, why shouldn’t we?
- Back to the Blood donations main page
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