The years 2020 and 2021 have been a rollercoaster for each one, thanks to Covid. Amidst all this destruction, and heart shattering events, the LGBTQ community got a reason to cheer. In most parts of the UK, healthy people irrespective of their gender or sexual orientation are now eligible to donate blood. The only criteria is that they should have same sexual partner for at least three months. Along with blood, these healthy individuals will be able to donate plasma and platelets, as well, as per the new NHS guidelines.
As the community celebrates pride month, this has come as a big breakthrough especially as in many countries, people who identify as male and have male identifying sexual partners are barred from donating blood. Many organisations are still fighting so that blood donation will be allowed in other countries. One such organisation is Freedom to Donate, where four friends got together and have been working for this cause for the past six years now. One of the founder members of Freedom to Donate, Ethan Spibey, set up the campaign group after he was turned away from donating blood. He had gone to 'repay' the donor whose donations had saved his grandfather's life during an operation. Finally, Ethan donated blood on the day rules changed.
“We have been working with the For the Assessment of Individualised Risk (FAIR) working group on this for the past couple of years, so we know how much work has gone into making it happen - we were delighted that the change finally came into effect this month as it was announced last December. The key thing to remember is that giving blood is completely selfless and altruistic. But around 1 in 4 of us will need a blood transfusion at some point in our lives, even if it is not us individually it is likely a close relative will, so we encourage everyone who is able to donate blood to do so,” said Dan, who is one of the founder members of Freedom to Donate.
Dan added that the day rules were changed, they received lot of enquiries with regards to blood donation. And he was quite humbled to see how many people were waiting for this change. (Those who wish to donate blood can register themselves at https://www.blood.co.uk/).
In India and many parts, such blood donation still remains banned. “Banning LGBTQ from donating blood is a form of discrimination. Gender and sexuality should not be a factor in choosing who can donate blood. Assuming LGBTQ people automatically have blood that is potentially unsafe is problematic,” said Ash Mukherjee who is hailed as the Best Indian dancer in Great Britain and the only representative of temple dance.
“People generally don’t come out when they are not in a queer safe space. Lockdown would have made it for some young LGBTQ people to stay confined in a space that is unsafe for them. Not being able to come out and live your true self and be who you are is a form of abuse in my opinion and significant violation of a basic human right,” Ash added.
Many also don’t feel safe to come out or accept their identity, as they fear society, especially the Asian community will ostracise them. Many undergo conversion therapy, and many remain silent over their sexual orientation. Ash feels that parent plays an important role when a young person is battling with his/her sexual orientation.
“LGBTQIA has always existed in civilisation whether they like it or not. Not accepting us is akin to a tree not accepting one of its own branches. It comes from a place of denial, ignorance, and arrogance. Educate yourself, stop perceiving the world with a post-colonial hangover. You may have a young queer person at home. Your first and foremost duty as a caregiver is the emotional and physical safety of your child. Do not be that parent that your own child cannot confide to. Make sure that they feel loved and accepted no matter what. Otherwise, you will have failed them as a parent,” he added.
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Why is June celebrated as a Pride Month?
In order to commemorate the Stonewall Riots which occurred at the end of June 1969 in USA, the month of June is chosen for LGBT ride. The Stonewall riots was a series of violent demonstrations by members of the Gay community in the US against a police raid on June 28, 1969, at the stonewall Inn in the New York city. First gay parade was held on June 27 and 28, 1970 in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco to commemorate the first anniversary of the stonewall riots.
The first flag made its debut in 1978 at the San Francisco pride parade. The original LGBT flag was hand dyed and had 8 symbolic colours, later two colours were dropped. In early days, marches were often referred as gay liberation and freedom in their names, however, with the cultural changes in 1980s and 1990s, these words were replaced with gay pride.
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