Petition Gay Men Donating Blood - 12 Month Deferral Ban

This discriminatory policy should be removed immediately to allow gay and bisexual men the right to donate blood freely without prejudice.
 
Blood-borne viruses are increasing throughout the UK however the NHS could use this opportunity (through blood donation) to identify those individuals infected and provide necessary support.

Blood-borne viruses are by no means restricted to the gay male community but this policy and practise adopted by the NHS would suggest this, instead of the NHS refusing this service to gay men it should be embraced. 

Such discrimination should not be allowed but whilst it does gay men remain an untapped resource that could be used to save lives (not only to those who later receive the donated blood but also to those donor patients who are infected with a blood-borne virus).

I call on the Government to remove the 12 month deferral ban on gay men donating blood, and subsequently introduce an individual risk assessment for all blood donor patients.