US EditionMajor changes for Aussie blood donors
Lifeblood expects the overhaul to add 20,000 donations a year as gender-neutral screening replaces rules that blocked many gay and bisexual men.
- Starting today, Monday, April 20, 2026, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood implemented gender-neutral donor assessments, allowing gay and bisexual men and transgender people in long-term, monogamous relationships to donate blood for the first time.
- The Therapeutic Goods Administration approved this removal of gender-based sexual activity rules last year after extensive risk modeling, ending restrictions first introduced during the 1980s HIV pandemic.
- Around 33,000 donations of blood, plasma, and platelets are needed weekly to support patients undergoing treatment; health authorities expect this overhaul to deliver up to 20,000 additional blood donations annually.
- Nick Rohrlach, an outgoing executive at Virgin Australia, became one of the first newly eligible men to donate on Monday, while donor Tim Thorpe welcomed the shift, stating he finally has the opportunity to contribute.
- Building on earlier changes to sexual activity rules for plasma donation introduced last July, the new policy enabled 3,000 new donors to provide almost 10,000 donations, as officials emphasize that patient safety remains the central consideration.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Australia eases blood donation restrictions for some LGBTQ+ citizens
"We're now able to now safely make changes that will enable gay and bisexual men and transgender people to donate blood and platelets," announced Lifeblood executive director Cath Stone The post Australia eases blood donation restrictions for some LGBTQ+ citizens appeared first on Attitude.
In the 1980s, the HIV epidemic caused the imposition of restrictions around the world that prevented the men of the LGBTIQ collective from donating blood. Strict measures based on sexual orientation that in recent years have become more flexible in countries such as the United States, Ireland or Germany; and to which Australia has joined since Monday. Continue reading....
'Feel so proud': Lifeblood expands eligibility for gay and bisexual men, transgender people
For the first time in more than 40 years, gay and bisexual men as well as transgender people who have had a single sexual partner for more than six months will be able to donate whole blood. From 20 April, Lifeblood's pre-donation assessments will use gender-neutral language, meaning everyone — regardless of gender or sexual orientation — will be asked if the same questions relating to sexual partners. The change is estimated to unlock around 20…
Thousands more LGBTQ+ Australians can now donate blood after major rule change
Thousands more gay and bisexual men and transgender people are allowed to donate blood in Australia from 20 April following a major rule change. Previously, many people from the LGBTQ+ community were not eligible to donate blood if they had had sex with anyone in the last three months, even if they were in monogamous relationships. The outdated rule was in place in response to the HIV pandemic in the 1980s. However, Australian Red Cross Lifebloo…
Lifeblood Expands Blood Donation Eligibility for LGBT Community
Lifeblood, the Australian Red Cross blood service, has introduced new criteria expanding donation eligibility for gay and bisexual men and transgender people. From April 20, gay, bisexual men and transgender people will no longer be asked whether they have had sex with men in the pre-donation questionnaire, with all donors now subject to the same sexual activity questions regardless of gender. This means the focus is now on donors’ individual be…
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