Egale Canada begins blood donation campaign
By Adnews Staff
LGBT advocacy group Egale Canada has begun a campaign aimed at ending the one-year celibacy requirement for blood donors who are men who have sex with men. According to the organization, the initiative is intended to change the blood donor screening process from one based on sexual orientation or gender to one based on behavioural risk. Developed by Sid Lee, the campaign includes online banner ads, social media content, a website at <http://www.bloodsurrogates.ca> and online video. The creative features a spokescharacter named Gary the Gay Blood Cell, as well as coloured bandages and blood bags filled with glitter.
"It's important to create awareness around the discriminatory nature of this policy," said Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale. "The policy itself targets MSM and trans folks and is based on a discriminatory stereotype about risky or reckless sexual behaviour."