In an announcement on Thursday (August 19), the country’s health minister revealed the changes after calling the restrictions a form of “discrimination”.
Until last week, all men who attempted to donate blood in Israel were asked if they had same-sex relations during the last 12 months – something that would disqualify them from giving if they had.
The new questionnaire now asks about “high-risk sexual relations with a new partner or partners” in the last three months, including the use of gender-neutral language.
Nitzan Horowitz, Israel’s health minister, who is also openly gay, took to social media last week to make the announcement and explain that everyone will be treated equally, regardless of their sexual orientation. “There’s no