After harsh criticism over a Wellington fertility clinic's discriminatory policy banning gay men from donating sperm, the nationwide policy has now been reversed, and gay men will be able to donate from the end of March. Human rights experts called the previous guidelines "blatant and irrational discrimination," as despite HIV testing of every sperm donation, gay men were immediately ruled out as they were considered to be at a higher risk of carrying infectious diseases. The discriminatory rules were also considered by some experts to be contributing a nationwide sperm donor shortage. New protocols, arranged with the guidance of the Human Rights Commission, will now subject every potential donor to the same questions and tests. Gay men will be allowed to donate, and all sperm will be tested for HIV, Hep B and Hep C.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Saturday, 11th March 2006 - 12:00pm