It's seen as a big step for New Zealand's male rainbow community
It's seen as a big step for New Zealand's male rainbow community
15 December 2020
The Blood Service is now accepting blood donations from gay and bisexual males, and other men who have sex with men, who haven't had sex in three months.
Auckland University health researcher and New Zealand AIDS Foundation Fellow, Dr Peter Saxton, says gay men are highly motivated to donate blood.
He says the previous period of 12 months without sex could be highly stigmatising about HIV transmission.
Saxton says it fuelled inaccurate stereotypes of being at risk.
He says it also excluded people from taking part in a valued civic act.
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