AIDS expert says it's time to screen donors for risky sex in partner's gender

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on 20.8.08.

An Australian AIDS expert has told the Tasmanian inquiry into the gay blood ban that it is time for donors to be screened for risky sexual activity, not their partner's gender.

Mr Bill Bowtell, who was senior advisor to Australian Health Minister, Dr Neal Blewett, when all gay men were initially barred from blood donation in 1983, and is widely seen as the architect of Australia's successful response to HIV/AIDS, today told the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal that it is time for potential donors, homosexual and heterosexual, to be screened for risky sexual activity such as unprotected anal intercourse.

Mr Bowtell said advances in blood testing and the growing need for safe blood mean it is in the public interest to allow blood donation from low-risk gay men.

He added that the growing heterosexual HIV epidemic in the Asia Pacific region poses a risk to the Australian blood supply unless heterosexuals are screened for unsafe sexual activity.

"We have a very strong and robust system which we can change to reduce risk, increase the volume of blood and remove unnecessary prejudice and discrimination", he said.

When asked if a question about anal sex might offend or deter some potential donors Mr Bowtell said "when you ask Australians a straight forward, honest question, you're likely to get a straight forward, honest answer".

Also appearing today was Dr Paul Holland, a medical professor from California, who supports the current gay blood ban.

When asked to define "sex" Dr Holland said it involves any exchange of bodily secretions including kissing, and that if a man engages in a same-sex kiss he should, on that basis alone, be barred from blood donation.

Dr Holland maintained that there is no safe sexual contact for men who have sex with men "other than abstinence".

Statistics and studies from Spain and Italy showing that HIV-positive blood donations from gay men have not increased since those countries allowed low-risk gay men to become blood donors were not accepted by Dr Holland.

The current gay blood donation inquiry before the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal was instigated by Launceston gay man Michael cain who is seeking a blood donation policy which screens donors for the safety of their sexual activity rather than the gender of their sexual partner.

The current hearings began on August 7th and will continue until the end of this month.

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668 or Michael Cain on 0400 734 798.

For more on gay blood donation visit www.gayblooddonation.org