Opinion: Canada should have scrapped its homophobic ban on blood donations from gay men long agoīlood service recommends Health Canada end gay blood donation banĬanadian Blood Services spokesperson Catherine Lewis said the new process is grounded in science. In its decision, the federal government noted that anal sex with new or multiple partners is associated with elevated risk of HIV transmission. If they have, they will need to wait three months since that activity before donating blood. If any potential donor replies yes, they will then be asked whether they have had anal sex with any of those partners.

30, potential donors will be asked if they have had new or multiple sexual partners in the past three months, no matter their gender or sexual orientation.

Australia and the United States continue to use this same three-month restriction, while Britain and Israel already screen donors based on behaviour instead of orientation, according to the federal government.