Donating blood – an act which takes only 30 minutes, yet is likely to be the most amazing thing you do in your lifetime. So why are we stopping healthy people from donating?

Every year, the National Blood Service (NBS) collect around 2.1 million blood donations, thoroughly testing each one, saving the lives of thousands of people each year. However, there is still a shortage, particularly of the more rare blood types. A shortage which could be filled by gay and bisexual men.

The NBS screening policy does not allow any man who has ever had oral or anal sex (unprotected or protected) with another man to give blood. This is a lifetime ban which affects all gay and bisexual men, irrespective of whether they practise safe sex or are in a monogamous relationship. And its not only gay/bi men affected – if you’ve ever experimented with another man you’re banned too, and any woman who has had sexual contact

with a bisexual male cannot donate blood for 6 months.

This policy is based on the misconception that most gay men have unprotected sex, and that HIV/AIDS is a “gay disease”. This is certainly not the case.

Thousands of people across the UK are calling for the NBS to follow in the footsteps of France, Italy and Sweden, and review this policy so that healthy, low-risk, gay and bisexual men are able to donate blood and help to save thousands more lives every year.

On 23rd May, the NBS are holding a blood donation session in Sub Zero,here at Essex University. We would urge you to jump at this opportunity,grab your free cup of tea and biscuits, and do something amazing today. Just give a thought to those who are unable to donate today, and please support our campaign in the Autumn/Winter term.

- Written by Alison Lemon and Lewis Collantine, on behalf of the LGBT Society