Before 2011, men who had sex with men were not allowed to give blood at all. Previously, men who had sex with men had to wait three months since their last sexual activity (even in a monogamous relationship) before donating, and before 2017 this was even more restrictive, with a twelve-month abstention period. New rules which came in this morning in England, Scotland and Wales mean that eligibility is now based on individual behaviours, rather than grouping potential donors together to determine risk. But this year, the day has even more significance, especially to many men who have sex with men, who have previously struggled to donate blood. Today (14th June) is World Blood Donor Day, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of voluntary blood donation to healthcare systems across the world.
