‘Why it’s so important that gay men like me are finally allowed to give blood’ – Manchester Evening News
A gay man previously turned away from giving blood has welcomed a new decision to allow more gay and bisexual men to donate blood.
Liam Halewood was shocked to discover that a controversial rule prevented him being a donor when he went to give blood.
Liam, 34, can now give blood after new eligibility criteria came into force on World Blood Donor Day last Monday, meaning donors will no longer be asked if they are a man who has had sex with another man.
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Under the old rules, gay and bi men were unable to donate unless they’d abstained from sexual activity for more than three months and they were asked about their sexuality on donation forms.
The rule changes mean anyone who has had the same sexual partner for the last three months will now be eligible.
Liam says this is important move to create a fairer blood donation system while addressing demand.
(Image: Liam Halewood/Instagram)
The NHS needs nearly 400 new donors a day and around 135,000 new donors a year to replace those who can no longer donate blood to help save lives in an emergency and for people who need long-term treatments.
Liam said: “There should be no law in this land to prevent you from giving blood.
“We should have the right to save somebody else’s life. This is why it’s so important.
“It doesn’t matter what gender or race we are, we should all be allowed to sit on a table for half an hour and give blood to save people’s lives.”
He continued: “HIV was considered a gay man’s disease and that’s why we can’t give blood.
“You’re asked on a form ‘have you slept with the same sex?’
(Image: Liam Halewood)
“When I went to give blood years ago I was blissfully unaware that I couldn’t give blood.
“There’s no regard for how discredited I feel as a human being. My blood is perfect.
“Somebody said to me before I went to give blood ‘you can’t give blood and you won’t be able to lie because you’re out, gay and proud.’
“When you’re told something so ridiculous you can’t believe it.
(Image: Liam Halewood)
“HIV is rife all over the world and in any gender and sexual orientation.”
Liam, A Boy George impersonator who has performed on Canal Street in the Gay Village and in social clubs across Manchester, will now give blood but believes it isn’t cause to celebrate.
“I don’t think the headline ‘a gay man can give blood’ is something to celebrate,” he said.
“It’s good to have won a challenge but it isn’t a celebration because we should have been able to give blood.
“Of course I will now give blood because I’m healthy but I won’t sit there and celebrate.
“I’ll sit there as Liam Halewood and give blood.
“How dare they tell us we can’t give blood?
Eligibility to give blood, following the rule changes, will be based on individual circumstances surrounding health, travel and sexual behaviours shown to be at a higher risk of sexual infection, NHS Blood and Transplant said.
Ella Poppitt, chief nurse for blood donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Patient safety is at the heart of everything we do.
(Image: ITV)
“This change is about switching around how we assess the risk of exposure to a sexual infection, so it is more tailored to the individual.
“We screen all donations for evidence of significant infections, which goes hand-in-hand with donor selection to maintain the safety of blood sent to hospitals.
“All donors will now be asked about sexual behaviours which might have increased their risk of infection, particularly recently acquired infections. This means some donors might not be eligible on the day but may be in the future.”
Despite the change Gaydio presenter Jsky, who was named a LGBTQ+ Pioneer of Colour for the the LGBT Foundation, says it’s a small victory.
“They are asking us to be grateful to be able to do something that saves lives, he said.
“Giving blood isn’t a nice thing to do, it’s a noble thing to do.
“I feel that this a token gesture but it’s not enough.”
Under the changes people can donate if they have had the same sexual partner for the last three months, or if they have a new sexual partner with whom they have not had anal sex and there is no known recent exposure to a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or recent use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Anyone who has had anal sex with a new partner or with multiple partners in the last three months will be not be able to give blood but may be eligible in the future.
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The changes were welcomed by charities including the National Aids Trust, Stonewall and Terrence Higgins Trust.
The changes follow a review into individualised criteria by the FAIR (For the Assessment of Individualised Risk) steering group led by NHS Blood and Transplant which have now been accepted by the Department for Health and Social Care..
Manchester has a permanent donor centre at Norfolk House, Brown Street, Manchester, M2 1DA.
To become a blood donor, register and book an appointment by calling 0300 123 2323, downloading the GiveBloodNHS app, or visiting www.blood.co.uk.