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Blood ban campaigner to fight on
Written by Peter Hackney   
Friday, 19 June 2009 15:48
Tasmanian gay blood donation campaigner, Michael Cain, says he will not give up his fight for gay men to give blood, despite last month’s decision by the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal to uphold the current gay blood ban.

Cain’s vow comes after the Tribunal dismissed his claim of discrimination on the basis that the Red Cross has a legal obligation to ban gay donors due to a lack of conclusive data on the risks associated with safe gay sex.

The Red Cross must act on “the worst case scenario”, the Tribunal found.

Cain said, however, that despite the decision, the Tribunal upheld most of his arguments for reform.

“I am pleased the Tribunal has agreed with my fundamental claim that there are monogamous, safe, gay men who have a lower HIV risk than some of the straight people who can currently give blood,” he said.  

“It's disappointing that they have not followed through on this conclusion by allowing these men to donate, but it’s a step in the right direction that I and others will build on.”

He added: “The Red Cross’s absurd claims that all gay sex is very high risk because gay men are all sexually irresponsible and promiscuous are now officially dead and buried.”

Cain said his next step would be to write to the Red Cross to ask for a gay blood donation trial.
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