From Monday 14 June, all donors will be asked the same questions about their sexual behaviours in a gender-neutral manner. Now, people can donate if they have had the same sexual partner for the last three months, meaning gay and bisexual men in sexually active and monogamous relationships can donate for the first time.
The policy was changed in 2011 to allow gay and bisexual men who have not had sex in the past 12 months to donate. In 2017, it was revised again to permit donations by men who have not had sex in the past three months, which excluded sexually active men who were in monogamous relationships.
This historic change follows years of pressure from LGBTQ+ campaigners, who argued that the policy did not reflect current risk levels.