# Why aren't gay men allowed to donate blood?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-gay-men-allowed-to-donate-blood/735821>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 26, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-gay-men-allowed-to-donate-blood/735821 "2015-10-26T21:36:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-gay-men-allowed-to-donate-blood/735821/61 "2015-10-31T21:35:04Z")

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> [@SciFiSam](#):
>
> What, pointing out that people who’ve been to areas with Ebola are effectively banned from donating anyway? I thought it was a good point.

I was just thinking that if they ask me “Have you ever had babiseosis?”, it wouldn’t be that hard to throw in something about ebola. The tone seemed snarky, whatever.

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**Author:** ![andrea\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@andrea\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrea_green)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-gay-men-allowed-to-donate-blood/735821/62 "2015-11-02T02:33:31Z")

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[Apparently](http://globalnews.ca/news/2308210/trudeau-government-promises-to-end-ban-on-gay-men-donating-blood/) the brand new Canadian government plans (as announced today) to change this rule.

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**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-gay-men-allowed-to-donate-blood/735821/63 "2015-11-02T04:00:44Z")

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FWIW the rules in Australia.

> **[Blood](https://www.lifeblood.com.au/blood)**
>
> From how blood donation works to who needs it, let's talk about it.

If you have had male to male sex or had sex with a male who has had male to male sex you’re not able to give blood for 12 months from the last instance.

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