HIV infection from gay blood donation likely "once every 5769 years"
This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 15.8.08.
The Tribunal hearing a case against the Australian Red Cross gay blood ban has been told that if the current bar on gay blood donation is lifted, a single HIV-positive blood donation from a gay man will slip through clinical screening in Tasmania once every 197 years.
If only gay men who have safe sex are allowed to donate, as sought by the man who initiated the current gay blood ban challenge, Michael Cain, that figure decreases to once every 5769 years.
The startling figures were put by Mr Cain's lawyer, Peter Tree SC, during today's cross examination of Canadian risk assessment expert and Red Cross witness, Dr William Leiss, and were based directly on statistics provided to the Tribunal by Dr Leiss.
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1 in 100 Australian blood recipients risk death from old blood
This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 14.8.08.
An expert witness in the Tasmanian gay blood donor case has claimed that the death rate from transfusing blood stored longer than 14 days may be 1 in 100.
The claim has been made by Dr Scott Halpern in evidence to the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, and is based on highly-regarded research recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
According to the Red Cross's own figures 13% of blood available for transfusion in Australia is older than 14 days.
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Bio-ethicists address gay blood donor hearings
This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 13.8.08.
Two bio-ethicists today addressed the inquiry underway in Tasmania into gay blood donation.
Dr Scott Halpern and Dr Leslie Cannold gave evidence to the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal about ethical and epidemiological issues at stake in the case, including the right of potential blood recipients to a plentiful and safe blood supply and the onus of proof on the Red Cross to justify its gay exclusion policy.
Dr Halpern, who is a bio-ethicist and epidemiologist at the University of Pennsylvania and a consultant to the US Centre for Disease Control and the US Food and Drug Administration, put the claims of the Red Cross about "increased risk" from blood donation from gay men in perspective.
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Gay blood inquiry here's that safe sex works / Gay blood ban compared to ban on Jews / Aborigines
This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 12.8.08.
An inquiry into the current ban on gay blood donation has heard that safe sex is effective in reducing HIV risk.
Social researcher, Associate Professor Anne Mitchell, today told the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal that risky sexual activity is not as widespread amongst gay and bisexual men as some studies suggest.
"The most compelling evidence of all for the effectiveness of safe sex is the simple fact that...when safe sex was taken on by men who have sex with men (msm) the escalation in infection rates was pegged back", Professor Mitchell said.
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Gay blood ban hearing: Red Cross accused of "scare tactics"
This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 7.8.08.
Gay activists have accused the Red Cross of scare tactics on the first day of a hearing into Australia's gay blood ban, in Hobart today.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, described the Red Cross opening statement in defence of the current ban as a "statistical diatribe against gay men".
"The Red Cross cited statistics about rates of HIV and other infections in the gay community which were misleading because the infections in question arise from unsafe sex, not gay sex, and because almost all these infections are increasing dramatically in other groups which aren't banned from blood donation", Mr Croome said.
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Groundbreaking gay blood ban case starts Thursday
This media alert was issued by the TGLRG on 5.8.08.
What: start of gay blood donor case
Where: Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, Magistrates Court, 23-25 Liverpool St, Hobart
When: 10am, Thursday 7th August with opening addresses for 3-4 hours
Who: gay blood donation litigant, Michael Cain, TGLRG spokesperson, Rodney Croome
More: www.gayblooddonation.org
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The first full hearing in a groundbreaking gay blood ban case begins in Hobart this Thursday before the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal.
The case was lodged in 2005 by Launceston gay man, Michael Cain, after he was refused the opportunity to give blood at the Launceston blood collection centre because he indicated he was in a sexual relationship with another man.
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Bullying shame sparks call for more school anti-homophobia funding / Commitment of independent schools questioned
This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 3.8.08.
Tasmanian gay activists have called on the State Government to increase funding for school anti-homophobia programs in an effort to reduce bullying.
The call comes in the wake of the revelation that 40 Tasmanian students are suspended for bullying every week.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that anti-gay prejudice is one of the leading causes of school-yard bullying.
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'Historic' Canberra forum tackles same-sex reform
This LGBT media release was issued by the Australian Coalition for Equality on 28.7.08.
Federal Government agencies have met with members of the gay and lesbian community to discuss same-sex couple law reforms.
The meeting, last Wednesday, was convened by the Attorney-General's Department to thrash out technical legal matters and discuss how reform will be implemented.
Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Corey Irlam, described the forum as "historic".
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Call for AFL anti-homophobia policy
This media release was issued by the Australian Coalition for Equality on 27.7.08.
Gay rights advocates have called on the AFL to adopt an anti-homophobia policy that parallels its successful anti-racism policy.
Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that players and club staff should be able to contribute to the game without fear of discrimination.
"The AFL has a long tradition of tolerance and inclusion which an anti-homophobia policy will build on", Mr Croome said.
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Supporters of equality urged to write to couple inquiries
This media release was issued by the Australian Coalition for Equality on 8.7.08.
The Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) has urged all members of the LGBTI community to take 5 minutes to make a submission to the current Senate inquiries into the rights of same-sex couples.
ACE Spokesperson, Corey Irlam, said "We urge the LGBTI community to mobilise, be loud and vocal by making a personal submission to the Senate inquiries, to prevent a watered down version of equality.”
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