DISCRIMINATION AGAINST POTENTIAL BLOOD DONORS

Back to all Motions

Conference
2004 National Lesbian & Gay Conference
Date
30 July 2004
Decision
Carried as Amended

This Conference is dismayed that gay and bisexual men are still discriminated against by the National Blood Service, by being denied the opportunity to give blood. Conference is concerned that this is perpetuating an unwelcome and damaging myth that all gay and bisexual men present a danger to the health of others when, in fact, the risks of being infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus through sexual activity are contingent on the practice of safe and safer sex methods regardless of sexual orientation.


Therefore Conference calls upon the National Lesbian and Gay Committee to:

1.Join the Trades Union Congress Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Committee to make representations to the National Blood Service to review their practices and seek to ensure questions asked of blood donors test awareness of safe and safer sex procedures rather than sexual orientation;

2.Run a national publicity campaign to encourage members to write to their MP in protest at this discrimination, and;

3.Work with the NEC towards the aim of lobbying the Secretary of State for Health.