Blood donation rules have now changed, allowing more people to donate blood.
From today, all Australians wanting to donate blood will be asked gender-neutral questions about their recent sexual activity.
The updated questionnaire asks every donor the same questions, including whether they have had sex with a new partner or more than one partner in the past six months.
Lifeblood Chief Executive Officer Stephen Cornelissen AM said the change marked an important milestone for blood donation in Australia.
“Previous donor rules prevented many people from the LGBTQIA+ community from donating blood or platelets if they had sex within the past three months,” he said.
“These latest changes mean many gay and bisexual men, as well as transgender people in long-term, monogamous relationships, will become eligible to donate blood or platelets for the first time.”
Cornelissen acknowledged the changes had been a long time coming and said he hoped more people would now come forward to donate.
“We know previous rules have been difficult for people in the LGBTQIA+ community, so we’d like to thank them for their support during this journey towards a more inclusive donation experience,” he said.
“We hope many more people will feel welcomed in our donor centres from today and sign up to become blood donors as a result of this change.”
Previously, Lifeblood’s rules prevented gay and bisexual men, as well as transgender women, from donating blood if they had sex with men in the previous three months.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the changes last year, following research showing the updated approach would not affect the safety of Australia’s blood supply.
The update follows the removal of sexual activity-based restrictions for plasma donations in July 2025, which has already resulted in almost 3,000 new donors and around 10,000 additional plasma donations.
The Let Us Give campaign has advocated for these changes for years, with spokesperson Rodney Croome acknowledging the long road to reform.
“Every letter to Lifeblood, every discrimination complaint, every scientific paper and every kitchen table conversation has contributed to the lifting of the gay blood ban. This has been a true grassroots movement,” he said.
Croome urged the community to donate under the new rules.
“The main reason we campaigned to lift the old gay blood ban was to ensure there is more safe blood for Australians in need,” he said.
“It’s time for us to roll up our sleeves and give the gift of life.”
The group estimates the changes could result in more than 50,000 additional donations each year, with Croome himself donating in Tasmania today.
Despite welcoming the reform, Croome said he would continue working with Lifeblood, arguing the current six-month deferral period remains too long.
“While monogamous gay, bisexual and transgender donors will now be able to donate, the deferral period for those who have had sex with a new or multiple partners is six months, which is longer than in comparable countries like Canada, the UK and the US,” he said.
“By imposing an unnecessarily cautious six-month requirement now that gay, bisexual and transgender people can donate, a requirement that did not apply to heterosexual donors in the same way previously, Lifeblood risks reinforcing stigma.”
Lifeblood has previously told Gay Sydney Daily that the six-month wait period is in line with current best practice in Australia.
