TOW #8- France to Lift Ban on Gay Men Donating Blood

This past week, France announced that it will lift a ban on blood donations by gay and bisexual men starting next year. It is one of the many countries that have loosened or scrapped such restrictions, which many see as outdated vestiges of the 1980’s AIDS crisis. Starting in the spring, men who have not been sexually active with other men in the past 12 months will be able to donate blood. Gay men who have had only one partner for the preceding four months, or who have not been sexually active, will be able to donate blood plasma. This policy is very different from the current US standards, where the Food and Drug Administration is still trying to pass legislature to try and end the longstanding ban on blood donations by gay and bisexual men. In order to highlight the progressive aspect of Frances New policy, author Aurelian 

Breeden has used multiple quotes from well-respected figures within France. Many times, she quoted health Minister Marisol Touraine as well as Jean-Luc Romero-Michel, a local politician in Paris and the president of an association of elected officials fighting AIDS, by including statements such as “Giving one’s blood is an act of generosity and of civic responsibility that cannot be conditioned by sexual orientation.” By using these direct quotes, she establishes credibility between the audiences and adds validity to her claim that by lifting this band, France is heading towards a more equal society. Breeden also includes logical facts in order to counter any opposition and address any concerns. Because of the nature of the HIV virus and the fact it may not be detectable for a certain number of months after infection, the French government has included a deferral period that will hopefully be the same as heterosexual donors (4 months.) By addressing the concern of AIDS, and sharing what the deferral policy is, Breeden successfully puts the audience at ease by assuring them that even though homosexual can donate despite the stereotype of HIV, the spread of this disease is not going to increase due to this policy.