Heartstopper’s Joe Locke Calls For End To Blood Donation Ban
August 16, 2022Heartstopper's Joe Locke has called for a change in the law that bans gay men from donating blood on the Isle of Man.
He delivered a passionate message via video at the island’s Pride celebrations on August 13, according to Gay Times.
The 18-year-old praised the progress that the Isle of Man has made so far. The island has banned conversion therapy for all LGBTQ+ people, a step which as not been adopted by all of the UK. “The island has come so far in the last 30 years,” said Locke.
“But there is still work to be done. The Isle of Man to this day does not allow gay men to donate blood, an archaic rule that was placed into force at the height of the AIDS pandemic. These rules have slowly changed in the UK since then, allowing gay men to donate blood under certain rules. But not on the island.”
Since 2017, in the UK, men who have not had sex with other men for at least three months are allowed to donate blood. As of last year, anyone who had the same sexual partner for over three months is eligible.
Bans on donating blood have recently been repealed in Austria, Canada, Israel, Greece, and France. The US is proposing similar changes to current legislation.
Locke is from Douglas, Isle of Man, and rose to fame for his role as Charlie Spring in hit Netflix series Heartstopper. The show topped the charts and was renewed for two more seasons by Netflix, a rare move from the streaming giant.
Clare Barber, founder of Isle of Pride, aid overturning the ban would be “an absolute no-brainer,” according to the BBC.
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Justin Trudeau “Hopeful” That Canada Will End Blood Donation Discrimination Soon
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