Bloody discrimination

A shortage of blood supply amid strict Covid-19 measures has resulted in widespread calls for donations. However, blood from gay and katoey donors remains unwelcome. Recently, a transgender woman who wished to donate her blood was turned away by staff at the Thai Red Cross Society due to her gender identity. The reason given by the staff was that she belongs to an at-risk population group vulnerable to HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Even if the donor was to provide a blood test result that can prove they’re totally clean, the Red Cross won’t accept their blood.

Many countries — Thailand included — have long imposed restrictions on blood donations from men who have sex with men as well as transgender people, claiming they have a higher tendency to engage in unprotected sex, which means a higher risk of HIV. During the pandemic, some countries introduced a waiting period in which donors had to abstain from gay sex for months before they could be eligible to donate blood. Yet for others, this ban is for life. The question still remains. Why are we creating these rules for a population group rather than for risky behaviours, which could apply to anybody regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity?

As a result, members of the LGBTI community and activists recently called for the Thai Red Cross Society to stop discriminating, reasoning that the ban violates the Gender Equality Act 2015. However, there is no change to be seen on the horizon.