I would hope they recognize they need to take clear steps to mitigate some of the harm.” Generations of gay men who have been told their blood has been unsafe. “I’m curious to see what Canadian Blood Services will do to repair the harm. simply wasn’t done by any previous government. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: "This should have been done 10 years ago, 15 years ago. He said those people are owed an apology. Reid said while he hopes the change will help boost blood donations, he said there are many people with “anger and sadness” after decades of being shut out and they likely won’t be eager to return to clinics. “It’s a win in that I’m excited for people who have been advocating this but so much harm has been done for decades.” “Science has demonstrated all along that screening based on behaviour was a more responsible way to screen,” he said. In an interview Thursday, Reid said the real credit belongs not to government or Canadian Blood Services but to the thousands of volunteers and activists who have lobbied for this change for decades ''Anger and sadness'Īdam Reid, executive director of Halifax Pride, welcomed the removal of the sexuality-based blood donation criteria as good news “but it is tempered by a sense that it’s a deeply delayed outcome that still leaves a lot of uncertainty.” In 2016, the restriction was reduced to one year and then three months as of 2019. Previously, men who had sex with men were banned from donating blood until 2013, when they were granted as eligible to donate blood by Health Canada but were required to have been abstinent from having sex with men for five years. Previously, men who had sex with men were banned from donating blood until in 2013, when they were granted as eligible to donate blood by Health Canada but were required to have been abstinent from having sex with men for five years. The move to remove the barrier for men who have sex with men is something the LGBTQ+ community has been pushing for for years. Graham Sher, CEO of Canadian Blood Services, said in a news release.Ĭanadian Blood Services is pleased to share that Health Canada has approved our request to remove eligibility criteria specific to men who have sex with men and instead focus on sexual behaviour associated with higher risk of infection among all donors. “Today’s approval from Health Canada is the result of over a decade of work to make participation in Canada’s Lifeline as inclusive as possible, without compromising the safety of biological products or the security of supply,” Dr. On Thursday, Health Canada approved to remove eligibility criteria specific to men who have sex with men by September 30, 2022.Ĭurrently, men who have sex with men must wait three months after their last sexual contact with a man before they are eligible to donate blood in Canada.īut with the new criteria to be introduced at the end of September, all donors - regardless of their sexual orientation - will be screened under the same process. This month also marks the first time in over two decades that the White House did not host an iftar dinner, the meal Muslims eat to break their daily fast during Ramadan.īelow, check out more photos of Trudeau looking adorable and affirming at Toronto Pride.Men who have sex with men will soon no longer have to jump through hoops before they're eligible to donate blood in Canada. Trump did offer six other proclamations for June, including “National Homeownership Month” and ”National Ocean Month.” This is the first time in eight years that no such proclamation has been offered. Trudeau’s American counterpart, President Donald Trump, on the other hand, neglected to offer an official proclamation designating June as Pride Month in the United States. We will passionately defend the rights of all our citizens regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.” “Our government believes in equality and equal treatment for all Canadians. “I believe that it’s essential to make amends for past wrongs, and not to simply gloss over them,” Trudeau said. He also promised to introduce legislation later this year that would “acknowledge and apologise for the historical discrimination" LGBTQ Canadians have faced in the past. Earlier this month Trudeau celebrated Pride in Canada with a ceremony that included raising the rainbow flag and transgender flag above the country’s parliament building.