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India’s LGBT Blood Donation Ban Remains Despite 2018 Ruling on Gay Sex
In a major verdict in 2018, India’s top court legalised gay sex; however, transgender persons and gay and bisexual males are still barred from donating blood.
LGBT people claim the decades-old restriction is “discriminatory” and have taken legal action to overturn it.
Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli’s mother had monthly blood transfusions while on her deathbed due to advanced Parkinson’s disease.
Ms Mogli, a trans woman living in the southern city of Hyderabad, was unable to donate blood despite being her mother’s primary carer.
“I had to keep posting [requests for blood donors] on WhatsApp and Facebook groups,” she said, characterising the process as “traumatising”.
Ms Mogli was fortunate in finding donors for her mother, but many others aren’t.
Beoncy Laisharam, a doctor in the north-eastern state of Manipur, described the experience of one of her patients, whose transgender daughter was unable to donate blood for his treatment.
“The father needed two to three units of blood every day. “They were unable to find blood from other sources,” she explained.
“He died two days after being brought in.”
Such experiences prompted Sharif Ragnerka, a 55-year-old writer and activist, to submit a petition with India’s Supreme Court challenging the ban on LGBT blood donations.
Indian regulations restrict LGBT individuals from donating blood since they are high-risk groups for HIV-AIDS; donors must be clear of infections transmissible by blood transfusion.
The regulation dates back to the 1980s, when other countries adopted similar prohibitions to combat a global HIV/AIDS epidemic that claimed thousands of lives.
Despite shifts in attitudes, subsequent regulations have kept the restriction in place, including the most recent rule draughted in 2017.
The petition, filed in July, claims that existing blood donation standards are “highly prejudicial and presumptive” and violate the LGBT community’s fundamental rights to “equality, dignity, and life”.
The court has asked the federal government to react to Mr Ragnerka’s plea and has linked it to two other outstanding court matters from 2021 and 2023.
In a previous session, the government supported the ban by referencing a 2021 health ministry research that stated transgender individuals, gay and bisexual males were “six to 13 times” more likely to contract HIV than the general population.
“The government’s policy is for risk mitigation with no moral judgement attached,” said Dr Joy Mammen, a blood transfusion expert.
However, detractors argue that the approach is discriminatory, based on shame, and makes individuals feel “excluded and insignificant”.
“Other genders also have HIV positive people, but their entire community is not banned [from donating blood],” Dr Beoncy said, adding that the ban reinforces existing stereotypes.
India is home to an estimated tens of millions of LGBT individuals. The Indian government estimated the country’s population to be 2.5 million in 2012, although global estimates believe it could be more than 135 million.
Many experience discrimination and are forced to abandon their family.
Campaigners claim that the ban restricts their access to critical medical care by prohibiting them from obtaining blood from their partners or “chosen families”.
“If there’s a blanket ban on blood donation by LGBT people, how do you expect community members to receive help in emergency situations?” questioned Sahil Choudhary, an LGBT activist.
In many cases, donors may feel obligated to lie about their sexual orientation when filling out a necessary blood donation form in order to save the life of a loved one.
Activists claim that the ban is not only discriminatory, but also unreasonable, given the country’s enormous demand for blood transfusions.
In 2022, the Public Library of Science reported that India had an annual blood shortfall of approximately one million units.
Thangjam Santa Singh, a transgender rights activist who filed a court challenge against the prohibition last year, claims that the present Indian rules are out of date, citing the fact that numerous countries have removed bans on LGBT blood donors.
Last year, the United States removed all bans on gay and bisexual males donating blood. Donors are now screened based on whether they have engaged in “high-risk sexual behaviour” rather than sexual orientation.
All prospective donors must complete a questionnaire about their recent sexual history. Those who have had a new sexual partner, several sexual partners, or had anal intercourse in the previous three months are urged to wait three months before giving blood.
The idea is that improved testing technology enables speedier detection of HIV cases, allowing potential donors to safely give blood based on an individual risk assessment.
In 2021, the UK implemented similar guidelines. Other countries that have lifted or loosened prohibitions include Brazil, the Republic of Ireland, Canada, France, and Greece.
Petitioners claim that India should implement an individual-centric blood donation system based on “actual risk” rather than “perceived risk.”
Ms Singh suggested that the Indian government consider implementing a deferral period based on the donor’s recent sexual history rather than completely denying the LGBT population the ability to give.
“This makes me feel like I am not human,” she told me.
The Indian government has rejected this, claiming that the country’s healthcare system is unprepared for the change.
In response to previous petitions brought before the Supreme Court, the federal government stated that modern blood testing technology, such as nucleic acid testing, which is widely used in other countries, were only accessible in a “small fraction” of blood banks in India.
“In India, the systems are not rigorous enough,” stated Dr. Mammen.
This applies not only to “testing,” but also to “ensuring an environment of privacy and confidentiality so that people feel comfortable answering questions about their sexual history,” he said.
However, members of the community are not convinced and say they will continue to battle the “prejudiced ban”.
“I keep thinking how I wouldn’t be able to donate blood to my family in case of urgent need,” says Ragnerka.
“I do not want to spend the rest of my life trying to find ways around these obstacles.”
Source: BBC
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.
Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”
The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”
Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.
Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.
The Prime Minister dances.
This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.
Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf
— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024
“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”
“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.
On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”
Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.
Pro-Palestinian protests
Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.
Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.
Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.
On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.
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The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.
The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.
The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.
“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”
According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.
Calgary Zoo Questioned
It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.
An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.
Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.
“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.
The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.
“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.
“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.
While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”
Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.
The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.
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Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.
Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.
The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.
According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.
While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.
Lotto Max History
Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.
The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.
Let’s have a look at the rules:
- Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
- Numbers cannot be repeated
- Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
- Each play buys 3 lines
- Each play costs $5
Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)
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