October 20, 2025Oct 20 LGBTQ+ advocates in Thailand are pressuring the Thai Red Cross's National Blood Centre to alter their blood donation application form. This follows an Administrative Court decision that maintained a ban on LGBTQ+ blood donations, citing public safety. Critics argue that the court’s Sept 19 ruling failed to address important concerns within the form, leading to calls for a more inclusive screening approach. Kittinun Daramadhaj, president of the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, emphasized that the court confused the screening form with actual lab testing procedures. His comments highlight a focus on the form rather than laboratory processes, as the complaint initiated by a ladyboy in 2019 targeted the former. Previous forms asked only male-assigned-at-birth donors about anal sex, reinforcing stereotypes while ignoring similar behaviors among heterosexuals. The Gender Equality Act in 2022 ruled the form discriminatory and suggested revisions for inclusivity. Kittinun mentioned plans to appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court, concentrating on the application form alone. Despite revisions purportedly promoting inclusivity, the form still predominantly targets high-risk groups, asking donors about their biological sex, gender identity, and sexual behaviors, which can deter accuracy in responses. Nittaya Phanuphak, from Thailand's Institute of HIV Research and Innovation, criticized the profiling method as outdated. She advocates for recognizing effective HIV protection measures like condoms or PrEP/PEP drugs and undetectable viral loads. These factors ensure blood safety beyond just donor profiles, highlighting the need for the form to be neutral regarding practices and HIV prevention. Kittinun supports focusing on risk behaviors rather than donor identities, suggesting specific questions about sexual practices and drug use, which could encourage honesty. He emphasized the application form should be a tool for screening without deciding donor eligibility. Key Takeaways Thai advocates call for revisions to blood donation forms post-court ruling. Critics highlight shortcomings in current screening methods. Focus urged on individual risk behaviors, not identities, for inclusivity. Related Stories: No Blood Donations from Gay Men: Thailand's Ongoing LGBT+ Fight United for the Nation: Blood Donations Pour In to Aid Thai-Cambodian Border Casualties Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-10-20
October 21, 2025Oct 21 Popular Post Makes sense. They screen the blood for STDs regardless. There are also many other uses for blood beyond direct transfusion. The one that annoys me is the age limit. I can easily manage a pint or two but am not allowed, even though I am a universal platelet donor. Very important for cancer patients. They used to call me promptly every three months to do a split product dual IV donation. Regardless, everyone should donate. It is so important to so many people.
October 21, 2025Oct 21 17 hours ago, snoop1130 said: LGBTQ+ advocates in Thailand are pressuring the Thai Red Cross's National Blood Centre to alter their blood donation application form. This follows an Administrative Court decision that maintained a ban on LGBTQ+ blood donations, citing public safety. Critics argue that the court’s Sept 19 ruling failed to address important concerns within the form, leading to calls for a more inclusive screening approach. Kittinun Daramadhaj, president of the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, emphasized that the court confused the screening form with actual lab testing procedures. His comments highlight a focus on the form rather than laboratory processes, as the complaint initiated by a ladyboy in 2019 targeted the former. Previous forms asked only male-assigned-at-birth donors about anal sex, reinforcing stereotypes while ignoring similar behaviors among heterosexuals. The Gender Equality Act in 2022 ruled the form discriminatory and suggested revisions for inclusivity. Kittinun mentioned plans to appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court, concentrating on the application form alone. Despite revisions purportedly promoting inclusivity, the form still predominantly targets high-risk groups, asking donors about their biological sex, gender identity, and sexual behaviors, which can deter accuracy in responses. Nittaya Phanuphak, from Thailand's Institute of HIV Research and Innovation, criticized the profiling method as outdated. She advocates for recognizing effective HIV protection measures like condoms or PrEP/PEP drugs and undetectable viral loads. These factors ensure blood safety beyond just donor profiles, highlighting the need for the form to be neutral regarding practices and HIV prevention. Kittinun supports focusing on risk behaviors rather than donor identities, suggesting specific questions about sexual practices and drug use, which could encourage honesty. He emphasized the application form should be a tool for screening without deciding donor eligibility. Key Takeaways Thai advocates call for revisions to blood donation forms post-court ruling. Critics highlight shortcomings in current screening methods. Focus urged on individual risk behaviors, not identities, for inclusivity. Related Stories: No Blood Donations from Gay Men: Thailand's Ongoing LGBT+ Fight United for the Nation: Blood Donations Pour In to Aid Thai-Cambodian Border Casualties Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-10-20 could be the las country to except LGHT blood, did i say they were backward ?
October 21, 2025Oct 21 Lots of countries allow blood from Haemochromatosis carriers as well. Thailand does not. Instead these people need to go the hospital every few months to give blood that gets thrown in the bin. That should also be revised.
October 22, 2025Oct 22 8 hours ago, sikishrory said: Lots of countries allow blood from Haemochromatosis carriers as well. Thailand does not. Instead these people need to go the hospital every few months to give blood that gets thrown in the bin. That should also be revised. I have haemochromatosis. I go for regular phlebotomies at a public hospital and they send my O-negative blood to the Red Cross anyway. No harm to anyone. A bigger problem for me is that Thai Red Cross donations are limited to every six months and, at 65, no donations are accepted. The US has no limits and Canada is 80. If you're fit enough to walk up those dizzying Red Cross stairs, you're fit enough to give blood! At 75, I've found a public hospital that fits me in. Love that Milo! I started to donate in May 1992 when demonstrators against a military dictatorship were gunned down in the streets. Seemed like the only way I could help.
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