Students are protesting against the ban put on gay men to donate blood in Aberdeen
Students are protesting against the ban put on gay men to donate blood in Aberdeen.
Students of the Robert Gordon University expressed the desire that they wanted the ban overturned. They also warned that the current situation perpetuates myths about gay men that are now defunct.As part of the protest, students will hand out cards asking heterosexual young people to give blood “because I can’t”.
Those behind the campaign say they do not want to put potential blood donors off, but to raise awareness of the issue.
In the words of Matthew Middler, the university's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender officer, "Blood is needed in life-threatening situations so the last thing we want to do is put people off giving. But if they take these cards along and say they are donating in place of someone who would like to, but isn't allowed, it will hopefully help to get the message across."
"NUS has always emphatically encouraged our members to donate blood - because gay and bisexual men can't. The campaign aims to highlight that many of our members who willing and healthy are prevented from donating blood because of this policy, which exacerbates the current shortage of donors." Said Kat Louis, NUS Women's Place LGBT Officer.
