In Austria, gays can now donate blood more easily
With regard to blood donations by homosexuals in Austria, there will soon be a relief. This is because the same requirements will soon apply to gays as to everyone else. The keyword: the so-called "three times three" rule.
This states that anyone who has had sex with more than three different partners in the last three months is not allowed to donate blood for three months. It is completely irrelevant whether the person in question is straight, gay or trans.
This is intended to ensure more equality in everyday life. In the meantime, many politicians have spoken positively about the far-reaching changes. After all, this means that in the future it will be the lifestyle or sex life of the person in question that counts, not their sexual orientation.
What regulations were in effect until now?
The regulations that affected numerous homosexual men in Austria still exist in many countries. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that a lot has changed in the meantime, especially with regard to the blood donation of homosexuals.
Previously, homosexual and bisexual men who wanted to donate blood also had to live abstinent for one year in Austria. Those who were non-binary or transsexual were generally not allowed to donate blood. This was a kind of discrimination, implying that it was precisely those groups of people who per se had a higher risk of spreading the HI virus. "Gay" was thus indirectly equated with an active sex life without contraception.
This is now to be put to an end. All people are to be treated equally. At the same time, a summary is to be drawn after two years.
How did the changes come about?
Again and again there have been campaigns - also in Austria - with a clear demand: equal rights in blood donation. This was also a major issue during this year's Day Against Homophobia. Those responsible have listened and weighed up and decided that there must be an end to the exclusion or prejudgement of certain groups.
Instead, all people are now evaluated equally in terms of a relevant risk. This means, for example: Anyone who has sex with numerous men as a woman is also not allowed to donate blood for a certain period of time.
Now everything is set in motion
The official text of the new regulation is not yet available. Therefore, the wording is not yet known. The only thing that is certain is that the long struggle of the community in Austria with regard to blood donation and with the goal of living equal rights has now come to an end for the time being.
What are the current requirements in Germany?
The regulations in Germany are currently still a little different. Here, bi- and homosexual men are only allowed to donate blood if they have been living in a monogamous relationship for a long time.
On the other hand, anyone who is single and has an active sex life, for example, must have lived abstinently for four months before donating blood. However, heterosexual women and men are also affected by this regulation. Those who frequently change partners are also not allowed to donate blood for this period.
One problem that becomes apparent in this context: Those who want to donate blood usually do so with the will to help other people. But: Are potential donors so determined to donate that they allow themselves to be sexually restricted? Freely along the lines of "I can't sleep with that one because I want to donate blood in two months!"?
In addition, the regulation naturally presupposes that the information provided is true.