Liberalization of blood donations: State Secretary Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) is now on the offensive.
Homosexuals are not allowed to donate blood for three months if they have had sex with a man in the past 12 months. Until 2019, a general exclusion applied. Anyone who has had more than three sexual partners in three months will be banned from donating blood for three months from the fall – regardless of sexual orientation.
Youth State Secretary Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP): “Homosexual men have written to me that they have been in a relationship with a partner for years. However, they were not allowed to donate blood. I am very happy that not only this discrimination, but also a practice that is not in line with EU law.”
Why did this take so long? “Someone has to get the ball rolling. When even Poland and Hungary abolished this arrangement, it was high time in Austria as well.”
There has been criticism from NGOs and the opposition
Yet there has been criticism for weeks. By NGOs and opposition. Yannik Shetty (NEOS): “The government’s labeling of this as its success is absurd and a mockery of those affected.” There were thousands of dedicated people, NGOs and the opposition who had constantly called for an end to discrimination. Claudia Plakolm: “The opposition was active when we were already working intensively on it. I leave the attempt to change cheap political change without comment.”
Source: Krone
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