Lumka Nofemele
The local gay community has won a victory against the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), which is making the rules for eligibility of blood donors non-discriminatory.
South Africa’s gay rights groups have long called for a review of the rule that does not allow actively gay men to donate their blood.
“Currently, there is a deferral period of six months,” said Vanessa Raju, brand and communications manager of the SANBS. “Men who have sex with another man within a period of six months before donating are turned away.”
But after years of extensive research and correspondence with the Department of Health, the deferral period will be changed to apply to any person who has had anal sex, not just homosexuals.
“We are very pleased to hear this,” said Brian Sibeko of OUT, a local gay rights organisation. “The previous rules made it seem as if only gay men are an HIV risk. It was highly discriminatory.
“I know gay men who have lied on the questionnaire so that they could give blood. They know that they are safe. They just want to help.”
“We have to keep our blood at the highest standard,” said Raju. “We conduct rigorous testing on the donated blood to make sure it is safe.
“HIV does not just affect gay men. We are working on a new questionnaire that will not ask for information specific to sexual orientation,” she added.
When the deferral period for gay men was cut from five years to six months in 2006, the SA Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said it was illogical to “single out gay men for risky anal sex”.