Blood donations by MSMs
Men who have sex with men are banned from donating blood in 57 countries.
Blood donations by MSMs
Historically, men who have sex with men (MSM) faced blanket bans from donating blood in many countries due to the perceived higher risk of HIV transmission associated with this group. Initiated during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, these policies have since evolved with advancements in medical testing and greater understanding of the virus. While some countries have lifted these lifetime bans, others have implemented deferral periods, requiring MSMs to abstain from sexual activity for a specified duration before donating.
Efforts to reform blood donation guidelines have continued over the years, as activists push for policies that both ensure the safety of the blood supply and respect the rights of potential donors without unjustified discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Summary
Timeline of blood donations by msms
Recent Changes
2024
- HondurasLegalNovember 30
- DenmarkLegalJuly 1
- Czech RepublicLegalJuly 1
- BermudaLegalMay 9
- EstoniaLegalMarch 1
- NorwayBanned (6-month deferral)January 1
- NetherlandsLegalJanuary 1
2023
- FinlandLegalDecember 4
- SwitzerlandLegalNovember 1
- BelgiumBanned (less than 6-month deferral)July 1
- New South WalesLegalJune 3
- TasmaniaLegalJune 3
- QueenslandLegalJune 3
- VictoriaLegalJune 3
- Northern TerritoryLegalJune 3
- Western AustraliaLegalJune 3
- South AustraliaLegalJune 3
- Australian Capital TerritoryLegalJune 3
- Heard Island and McDonald IslandsLegalJune 3
- Isle of ManLegalJune 1
- United StatesLegalMay 11
- GermanyLegalApril 1
2022
- QuebecLegalDecember 4
- IrelandLegalNovember 28
- CanadaLegalSeptember 30
- British ColumbiaLegalSeptember 30
- OntarioLegalSeptember 30
- New BrunswickLegalSeptember 30
- Nova ScotiaLegalSeptember 30
- Newfoundland and LabradorLegalSeptember 30
- Prince Edward IslandLegalSeptember 30
- ManitobaLegalSeptember 30
- SaskatchewanLegalSeptember 30
- AlbertaLegalSeptember 30
- YukonLegalSeptember 30
- Northwest TerritoriesLegalSeptember 30
- NunavutLegalSeptember 30
- Falkland IslandsLegalSeptember 26
- MaltaLegalSeptember 1
- AustriaLegalSeptember 1
- SloveniaLegalJuly 1
- LithuaniaLegalMay 1
- CyprusLegalApril 20
- CyprusBanned (6-month deferral)April 19
- IrelandBanned (less than 6-month deferral)March 28
- French Southern TerritoriesLegalMarch 16
- FranceLegalMarch 16
- Wallis and FutunaLegalMarch 16
- GreeceLegalJanuary 10
- KenyaLegalJanuary 1
- EstoniaBanned (less than 6-month deferral)January 1
- IcelandBanned (indefinite deferral)January 1
Blood donations by MSMs by Country
Legal
Blood donations by MSMs is legal in 113 regions.
- Asia (13)
- Bhutan
- Cambodia
- Israel 2021
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan 1997
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Nepal
- Saudi Arabia
- South Korea
- Vietnam
- Europe (36)
- Albania 2008
- Andorra 2011
- Armenia
- Austria 2022
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Cyprus 2022
- Czech Republic 2024
- Denmark 2024
- Estonia 2024
- Finland 2023
- France 2022
- Georgia 2017
- Germany 2023
- Greece 2022
- Hungary 2020
- Ireland 2022
- Italy 2001
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania 2022
- Malta 2022
- Monaco
- Montenegro 2014
- Netherlands 2024
- North Macedonia 2009
- Poland
- Portugal 2010
- Romania 2008
- Russia 2008
- San Marino 1958
- Slovenia 2022
- Spain 1976
- Switzerland 2023
- Ukraine 2016
- United Kingdom 2021
- North America (18)
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada 2022
- Costa Rica 2007
- Cuba 1979
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Grenada 2012
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras 2024
- Mexico 2012
- Nicaragua
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- United States 2023
- Africa (28)
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Chad
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eswatini
- Gabon
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya 2022
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger 2008
- Republic of the Congo
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- South Africa 2014
- South Sudan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tunisia 1957
- Zimbabwe
Legal with restrictions
Blood donations by MSMs is legal with restrictions in 4 regions.
- Asia (1)
- Turkmenistan
- Europe (1)
- Bulgaria
- North America (1)
- El Salvador
- South America (1)
- Peru
Banned (less than 6-month deferral)
Blood donations by MSMs is banned (less than 6-month deferral) in 4 regions.
- Europe (1)
- Belgium 2023
- North America (1)
- Trinidad and Tobago
Banned (6-month deferral)
Blood donations by MSMs is banned (6-month deferral) in 4 regions.
- Asia (1)
- Japan 2011
Banned (1-year deferral)
Blood donations by MSMs is banned (1-year deferral) in 3 regions.
- Oceania (1)
- Samoa
Banned (5-year deferral)
Blood donations by MSMs is banned (5-year deferral) in 1 regions.
- Asia (1)
- Taiwan 2018
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Blood donations by MSMs is banned (indefinite deferral) in 45 regions.
- Asia (23)
- Afghanistan
- Bahrain
- Brunei
- China 2012
- India 2017
- Iran
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Philippines
- Qatar 1915
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Thailand 1977
- Timor-Leste
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- North America (1)
- Panama
- Africa (14)
- Algeria
- Central African Republic
- Comoros
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Eritrea 1957
- Ethiopia
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Libya
- Mauritania 2016
- Morocco
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Oceania (1)
- Fiji
- South America (1)
- Venezuela 2017
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Data on blood donations by msms is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 23 regions.
- Africa (11)
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde Ambiguous
- Djibouti Ambiguous
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea Ambiguous
- Malawi N/A
- Nigeria
- Somalia Ambiguous
- Sudan
- Uganda
- Zambia N/A
- Oceania (1)
- Federated States of Micronesia
- South America (1)
- Suriname Ambiguous
- Antarctica (1)
- Antarctica N/A
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