Britain Modifies Gay Blood Ban

Gay men who have not had sex in the last year may now donate blood in Britain.

The change comes into force in England, Wales and Scotland on November 7th. Northern Ireland has not yet decided whether it will relax the rules. But gay rights campaigners said gay men would still be treated unfairly under the new rules, as heterosexuals engaged in higher risk sexual activity are not subject to the same restrictions. The ban was put in place in the 1980s after the AIDS crisis, as gay and bisexual men have higher rates of HIV. Currently, any man who has ever had protected or unprotected oral or anal sex with another man cannot donate blood.