Canadian Blood Services Issues Apology to the 2SLGBTQ+ Community Over Donation Ban

For decades, Canadian Blood Services enforced policies that excluded sexually active men who have sex with men from blood and plasma donation. These regulations, which were revised in 2022 to prioritize sexual behavior over sexual orientation, were deemed harmful.

Dr. Graham Sher, CEO of Canadian Blood Services, directed the apology specifically to affected men and the broader 2SLGBTQ+ community, irrespective of their eligibility to donate.

“The policy was originally implemented to safeguard patient health in response to the 1980s blood system crisis. However, we now acknowledge that it perpetuated harmful stereotypes regarding blood safety based on sexual orientation,” stated Sher during the apology delivery in Ottawa on Friday morning.

In 1992, Canada implemented a lifetime blood donation ban for gay men. This policy was subsequently revised to require men who have sex with men to abstain from blood donation for five years after sexual activity, gradually reducing to three months.

Initially, Canadian Blood Services justified the deferment period citing the higher prevalence of HIV among men who have sex with men.

After facing prolonged advocacy, the organization recommended in 2021 to eliminate questions about sexual orientation from donor screening. Supported by domestic research and international evidence, it was concluded that this change posed no risk to the blood supply.

The new policy, based on screening for sexual behavior, was officially enacted in late 2022 following Health Canada’s approval, fulfilling a 2015 Liberal election pledge.

Sher expressed hope that the apology would contribute to repairing relationships with affected individuals and communities.

The updated regulations continue to face criticism.

The new screening policies of Canadian Blood Services prioritize identifying high-risk behaviors among all donors, such as engaging in sexual activity with multiple partners.

Rather than inquiring about gender or sexual orientation, prospective donors are now assessed based on behaviors associated with higher risk, such as engaging in anal sex with new or multiple partners. If such activity has occurred, the individual must wait three months before being eligible to donate blood.

Canadian Blood Services implements this three-month deferral period to minimize the possibility of recent infections being overlooked during testing.

Advocates argue that men who have sex with men may still face exclusion, even if they consistently use condoms during anal intercourse.

Canadian Blood Services defends its stance by stating that querying potential donors about condom usage is not a reliable screening method due to potential failures like breakage or slippage, as well as uncertainties regarding recall.

Egale Canada, a legal advocacy group, hailed the apology as historic and long-awaited.

People utilizing pre-exposure prophylaxis treatment (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) — medications designed to prevent HIV infections — face similar restrictions. Donors must wait four months after their last dosage of the medication before being eligible to donate blood

Canadian Blood Services acknowledges that testing individuals on such medications may potentially overlook low levels of HIV, indicating the need for further research. Sher stated that blood services worldwide are investigating this matter.

Michael Kwag, a member of Canadian Blood Services’ 2SLGBTQIA+ advisory committee, expressed a desire for a future where individuals on HIV prevention medication can donate blood. However, he also acknowledged lingering uncertainties regarding the effects of these medications on test results.

“As someone who is on PrEP and cannot donate for that reason, I do appreciate and recognize how important it is that these questions are answered in the most comprehensive and conclusive kind of way,” he said.

“Queer people also depend on a safe and reliable blood supply.”

Sher mentioned that Canadian Blood Services is currently reviewing its policies aimed at preventing malaria from entering the blood supply, particularly considering its impact on individuals from Black and South Asian communities.

Earlier this week, Health Canada revised its longstanding policy that prohibited gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada.

The regulator’s updated approach adopts more inclusive screening measures, replacing inquiries about sexual activity with men in the previous three months with gender-neutral questions about engaging in sexual behavior with a new partner or multiple partners over the same timeframe.

Previously, male sperm donors were specifically questioned about their sexual activity with men, while egg donors were asked about their interactions with men who have sex with men.