Russian gay activists have once again demanded the repeal of the ban on blood donations by homosexual people.

The request was made in a letter sent to the Ministry of health and social development.

Nikolai Alekseev and Nikolai Baev, activists of Russian LGBT Human Rights Project GayRussia.Ru and organizers of Moscow Gay Pride, made references to the earlier replies to their requests made in 2006 and 2007 which they received from the Ministry.

Officials undertook to amend the current instructions to allow homosexual people to donate blood. Current Order of the Ministry, dated 14 September 2001, puts homosexuals on the same level as prostitutes and drug addicts.

In June, 2007, the Ministry informed gay activists that the relevant amendments are ready and being prepared for implementation. Nevertheless, ban on blood donations by homosexual people is still in force in Russia.

In their third letter to the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Alekseev and Baev reminded officials that homosexual relations between consenting adults in private have not been a criminal offence in Russia since 1993.

Moreover, they point out, since 1999 homosexuality is no longer considered as a psychiatric disease since Russia joined the international classification of mental illnesses.

The applicants also give reference to the Article 23 of Russian Constitution, which guarantees right to private life, as well as Article 19 of the Constitution which bans discrimination on various grounds.

According to the Federal Law on blood donations implemented in 1993 “donation of blood is a voluntary act”. Article 1 stresses that any person over the age of 18 can donate blood after medical examination.

Nikolai Alekseev and Nikolai Baev concluded that in case of inaction of the Ministry they are ready to ask for the repeal of the ban in courts.

On September 14 last year, gay activists tried to organize a picket in front of the Ministry of Health and Social Development in downtown Moscow but the prefecture of the Central Administrative Area banned the event on security reasons with the same justifications as the Gay Pride events. Unsanctioned picket led to the arrests of activists next to the Ministry.

The same day, several gay activists, including Alekseev, tried to give blood at the Central Blood transfusion centre in Moscow but they were denied.

“We will fight against the current ban on blood donations for homosexual people until we win," Alekseev said.

“There are no reasons to keep the current ban in force. Moreover, many specialists in the field agree with us that this ban can not be implemented in practice."

“In fact it is used to stigmatize sexual minorities, to show their asocial nature. They appear in the document together with drug addicts and prostitutes.”

Alekseev added that he is ready to go to the blood transfusion centre again to try to donate blood as an openly gay person. In case of official denial on the basis of the Order in force, he said that he plans to appeal the ban in courts.

Article courtesy of UK Gay News. © 2008 ukgaynews.org.uk; All Rights Reserved