Brazilian court allows LGBTQ+ community to donate blood

Brazil’s Supreme Court has rescinded the rules of gay and bisexual men that limit from donating blood. This decision was considered a victory for LGBTQ+ people in the country.

The case reached the Supreme Court in 2016, but it took until 2020 for a majority to be reached. 7 out of 11 supreme court judges voted in favor of lifting the ban.

The court said the ban was unconstitutional as it imposed restrictions on gay and bisexual men, backing the supreme court minister Edson Fachin, who argued this offended the basic human dignity of gay and bisexual men.

Supreme court minister Fachin stated that “Instead of the state enabling these people to promote good by donating blood, it unduly restricts solidarity based on prejudice and discrimination”

In the 1980s, donating blood first emerged in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. The United States of America, Denmark, and Northern Ireland revoked the ban in recent months in order to ensure greater supplies of blood amidst mounting pressure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister Alexandre de Moraes, one of the four who voted against overthrowing the ban imposed by the Ministry of Health, argued that the waiting period was not discriminatory but based on technical studies.

After the decision, Federal politician Samia Bomfim stated on Twitter “A historical victory for the LGBT population! And the measure benefits everyone who needs donations, as blood stocks are almost always insufficient”

Written by: Krishna Chaitanya