Canadian Blood Services has submitted a request to Health Canada, recommending no longer asking men if they've had sex with other men.
Canadian Blood Services has made a submission to Health Canada, recommending an end to the ban on sexually active gay men donating blood in Canada.
On its website, the organization says instead, it wants to ask all donors, regardless of sexual orientation, if they have engaged in higher-risk sexual activities.
"We aim to be an organization that is inclusive and welcoming to all potential donors with minimal restrictions. Our proposed criteria would ask all donors about anal sex in the context of new or multiple recent partners. This would allow us to precisely and reliably identify those who may have a transfusion-transmissible infection, regardless of gender or sexual orientation."
Currently, gay and bisexual men are only allowed to donate blood in Canada if they have been abstinent for three months.
As well, women wishing to donate are asked if they've had sex in the last three months with a man who had sex with another man during the last 12 months.
If the blood services' proposal passes, all potential donors will be asked if they have had new or multiple partners instead.
If they answer "yes", they will then be asked if they have had anal intercourse, which carries a higher risk of transmitting HIV.

3rd Annual Running with the Bulls Shines
Mischief in Tillsonburg is Under Investigation
Upgrades Completed for Woodstock Disc Golf Course
OPP Enforcement for Civic Holiday Weekend
Woodstock Candidate Profile - Anthony Scalisi
Drug Trafficking Investigation Leads to Charges
EZT Candidate Profile - Don Chowan
Oxford County Requesting Public Input
Norwich Man Charged in Brant County
SPWH Wants You to Know Drinking Risks
Charges Laid after Truck Hits Bridge
Ingersoll Candidate Profile - Mike Tucker
Motorcyclist Killed in Oxford Collision
Tip Tuesday with the Oxford OPP - July 2026
Oxford OPP Briefs - July 28th, 2026
Cat Thrown from Vehicle in Norfolk County
Environment Canada Issues Yellow Watch for Thunderstorms
Oxford Mosquito Traps Tests Positive for West Nile
Woodstock Candidate Profile - Sandeep Sidhu
Comments
Add a comment