Greece finally lifts archaic ban on queer men donating blood

Greece has lifted its stringent, decades-old ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood in a move dubbed by activists as “the least [they] could do”.

Health officials brought out a life-long ban on men who have had sex with another man at any point donating blood in 1977, in line with international regulatory authorities of the time.

But on Monday (10 January), health minister Thanos Plevris and deputy Mina Gaga signed a ministerial decree to remove such restrictions, Greek City Times reported.

Current criteria debarring someone from donating blood will no longer include homosexuality.

The change will come into effect once published in the Government Gazette, Greece’s legal newspaper that prints the text of new laws and decrees.