BAD BLOOD: THE CONDITIONS OF THE BLOOD BAN

Abstract

In Canada, men who have sex with men (MSM) are not able to donate blood until three months after their last sexual encounter in order to protect the national blood supply from HIV. This policy has been regarded as highly homophobic and prejudicial as it unjustly discriminates against a specific population. The context that first called for the Blood Ban some 40 years ago no longer exists. As such, in this paper, I determine and critically analyze the conditions that have allowed the Blood Ban to not only survive, but thrive in Canada. The first condition is Canada’s history of homophobia and stigma towards HIV/AIDS. The Blood Ban was first introduced when HIV/AIDS was thought to be exclusive to the MSM community. Homophobia allowed the world to wrongfully stigmatize MSM as disease-ridden and impure and thus further perpetuated MSM discrimination and the Blood ban. The second condition is fear of possible HIV transmissions to the general public. In Canadian Blood Services (CBS) history, there have been some instances of HIV transmission occurring via blood donation. As a way to mitigate any more scandals and calm public outrage, CBS has kept the outdated Blood Ban in place. The last condition is the delegitimization of citizenship for MSM who wish to be altruistic. Altruism allows individuals to be good citizens and should be considered a right. By denying MSM to donate blood, their right to be altruistic and thus act as a good citizen is taken away and their citizenship is infringed upon. These three conditions are nuanced and act independently and in cooperation with each other to perpetuate the existence, survival, and longevity of the Blood Ban.