Switzerland lifts extra blood donor rules for gay men

STORY: Gabriel Delabays is one of the first gay men in Switzerland to give blood without extra restrictions on Wednesday (November 1).

Switzerland amended blood donation criteria for men who have sexual relations with other men, making ineligibility criteria the same for homosexuals and heterosexuals.

“It’s a small page in a history book that says: On Nov. 1, 2023, Switzerland allowed homosexuals to donate their blood more easily. I don’t think we should think only as a community, but it’s good to break barriers and to promote the right things to do.”

Until 2017, gay men were systematically barred from giving blood in Switzerland.

It was a policy dating back to the start of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s.

Since then, men sexually active with other men were allowed to donate blood only if 12 months had passed since their last homosexual encounter.

Now, under the new restrictions, a four-month waiting period applies to all people after their last sexual encounter with a new partner.

or a 12-month waiting period if sexual contacts have taken place with more than two partners within the last four months.

Some other European countries have no restrictions preventing men who have sexual relations with men from giving blood.

France removed additional restrictions on gay blood donors last year.