From a Politician’s Anti-LGBT Views to a Blood Center Wanting to Change Policy for Gay Men, This Week in Int’l LGBT News – SouthFloridaGayNews.com
This week read about Zimbabweans reacting to Nelson Chamisa’s views on LGBT rights, and Canadian Blood Services wanting to reduce wait time for gay men to donate blood.
Zimbabweans Divided Over Politician’s Position On LGBT Rights
Zimbabweans have scrutinized opposition lawmaker Nelson Chamisa’s views on LGBT rights on the internet. This comes after Chamisa took part in an online conversation moderated by Mmusi Maimane, a South African opposition leader.
According to iHarare, during the conversation, Chamisa’s attitude on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning people’s rights was brought up. Chamisa answered by stating that he will be guided by the Zimbabwean Constitution, which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Cabinet approved revisions to Zimbabwean marriage legislation in May 2019, aligning it with the Constitution by prohibiting both child weddings and same-sex marriages.
Some people appear to be offended by Nelson Chamisa’s views on LGBT rights. LGBT supporters were irritated, questioning why they should vote for him when he does not actively promote them. Many stated emphatically that they would never vote for Chamisa.
Canadian Blood Services Wants To Reduce Wait Time For Homosexual Men
Photo via Canadian Blood Services, Facebook.
Canadian Blood Services plans to ask Health Canada to eliminate the three-month ineligibility term that requires males to wait after their last sexual contact with a man before giving blood, in favor of screening all donors based on sexual behavior.
“It’s a change that’s long overdue, but it will not erase years of the LGBTQ community being told their blood is dangerous or that ‘they’re not good enough,’” said Kirk Furlotte to CBC, Atlantic regional manager for Community-Based Research Centre, a non-profit that promotes the health of gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirit and queer (GBT2Q) men.
In a 2018 CBRC survey of 3,500 gay, bi, queer, trans and two-spirit men, more than 90% said they would donate blood if eligible.
“I think the community is looking forward to it, even though it will be a bumpy road for the first, let’s say, few years,” said Furlotte.