Britain lifts ban on gay blood donors - will Canada follow?

[The Northerner]

LONDON — British authorities opened the door Thursday to some gay men being able to give blood, a move Canada's two blood collection agencies hope to follow.

Britain joined South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and other countries in doing away with the now controversial lifetime ban on blood donations from gay men.

Starting in November, gay men in Britain who haven't had sex with other gay men for at least 12 months will be eligible to give blood.

Toronto lawyer Adrian Lomaga, who has been fighting for this type of policy change in Canada, welcomed the news.

"Given the research I've seen to date, I think a 12-month deferral period is reasonable. I'm comfortable with that as being a deferral period in Canada," said Lomaga, who filed a lawsuit against Quebec's blood agency, Hema-Quebec, when he was a student at McGill University.

Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20110908/britain-gay-blood-donors-110908/