Beginning on Nov. 7, blood donation regulations for gay men and women who have sex with gay men will be changed in England, Scotland and Wales.
The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs reviewed current data surrounding sexual contact and donating blood and the risk of HIV infection as compared to people who participate in other risky behaviors. And this time, they found gay men aren't any more likely to be a danger than, say, a needle banger or prostitute.
UK National Health Services Blood and Transport said on their website, “The change means that in future only men who have had anal or oral sex with another man in the past 12 months, with or without a condom, will be asked not to donate blood. Men whose last sexual contact with another man was more than 12 months ago will be able to donate, subject to meeting the other donor selection criteria.”