The Canadian Blood Services (CBS), as mandated by its regulator, Health Canada, has placed a lifetime ban on blood donations from men who have had sex with other men (MSM) anytime since 1977. The MSM deferral is part of the screening procedures designed to identify a variety of behaviours and circumstances known to increase risk to the safety of the blood supply.

The current policy does not, however, take into account the use of protection in sexual activity, the various risk levels of different types of sexual interaction, or the donor?s relationship status. The ban on blood donation from the MSM community is discriminatory, and based on outdated science and broad and old-fashioned stereotypes of the queer population.

The York Federation of Students, along with the Canadian Federation of Students, Canadian AIDS Society and EGALE are calling on Ministry of Health, Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec to end the lifetime ban on blood from men who have had sex with other men and base any deferral periods on behaviours, not demographics.

To get involved in the fight to end the ban, visit: www.endtheban.ca and send an email to the Federal Minister of Health!