France to end 32-year ban on gay blood donors
By Micah Sulit
After similarly good news from The Netherlands last week, France has declared that it will overturn a 20-year ban on gay blood donations.
Health minister Marisol Touraine told French newspaper Le Monde that blood donations from gay people will be accepted starting in spring 2016.
“This is the end of a taboo and discrimination,” Touraine remarked when she made the announcement in Paris.
According to Touraine, the policy change “will proceed in stages” to allow the government to assess risks and safety.
“Initially, blood donation will be open to homosexuals who have not had sex with another man for 12 months. Homosexuals can give plasma if they are in a stable relationship for four months or if they have not had sex in the same period.
“The first donations will enable us to carry out studies and, if there is no risk, the rules that apply to homosexuals will be reconciled with the general rules the following year.”
Reversing the ban, which has been in place since 1983, was one of President François Hollande’s promises during his campaign.
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