More gay and bi men are donating blood than ever before

Gay and bisexual men in England are donating blood in larger numbers than ever before, a new survey has shown.

The surge follows a change in the eligibility criteria for England, Scotland and Wales that was introduced in 2021.

In the 1980s, queer men were completely banned from donating blood to prevent the transmission of HIV after the AIDS crisis.

In 2011, the ban was then lifted, but queer men wanting to donate had to adhere to strict rules, including a requirement to abstain from having sex with another man for 12 months prior. That period was then reduced to three months in 2017.

Matt Hancock, the former health and social care secretary, said of the updated and more inclusive 2021 donation criteria at the time: “This landmark change to blood donation is safe and it will allow many more people, who have previously been excluded by donor selection criteria, to take the opportunity to help save lives.”

He continued: “This is a positive step and recognises individuals for the actions they take, rather than their sexual preference.”

The new survey surrounding donations polled 8,744 male donors, and 7.5 percent identified themselves as gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer, bicurious or sexually fluid. The new figure shows a massive rise from a 2014 survey, which showed just 1.4 percent of those surveyed identified as such.

Su Brailsford, a Consultant in Epidemiology and Health Protection at NHSBT and chair of FAIR, the research authority that conducted the survey, said that blood donation has become more inclusive, but “safety remained a priority.”

“The survey statistics indicate more gay and bisexual men are now donating, it’s very encouraging to see new donors coming to our centres and we try and make them very welcome,” Brailsford continued.

‘You are literally saving someone’s life with one hour of your time’

The change in criteria meant that many queer men were able to donate for the very first time, including Thomas Yates, a gymnastics coach from Greater Manchester.

Yates said he was inspired to donate by his grandfather, who had leukaemia and needed weekly blood transfusions.

“I feel very passionate about it – you are literally saving someone’s life with one hour of your time, it’s something we should all do as part of the human race,” he said.

He went on to say that he was “incredibly upset” when he went to donate in 2018 and found he was not permitted to.

“I felt it was another way queer people are marginalised,” he continued. “I was so fit and healthy.”

He then booked his first donation in 2021 as soon as the rules changed. “I felt elated afterwards, proud that I was able to donate, pleased the rules had changed, happy, overjoyed – even speaking about it now, I am getting a little teary. It was such a great day.”

He continued: “My journey has been quite tumultuous, a love and hate experience. I could have done nearly 80 donations by now had we as queer people been able to donate sooner.”

Yates went on to encourage more people to donate blood, saying: “It’s so easy.” “You complete the form, have a drink, have the screening chat, and then go and donate blood. The staff are so friendly.”

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