Mon 26 May 2008 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Russia's Ministry of Health and Social Development has repealed its blanket ban on blood donations by homosexual people. The Minister of Health and Social Development signed the decree on April 16, it has only just emerged. Russian LGBT Human Rights Project GayRussia.ru has fought the restrictions for more than two years. Last year the deputy head of Moscow's Central Blood Transfusion Centre admitted that the ban, frequently used to stigmatise gay people as a group at high risk of HIV infection along with prostitutes and drug addicts, could not be realised in practice and should be repealed. Meanwhile, the New Zealand Blood Service still refuses donations of blood from any men who acknowledge having had sex with men within ten years, although the results of a review of its donor behaviour policy is nearing completion.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 26th May 2008 - 2:49pm