Blood9

DONATION NOT DISCRIMINATION   

Example Press Release

NEWS RELEASE

FAO: Newsdesk/Education correspondents
Under embargo: 00.01 Thursday 2nd November 2007

We want donation not discrimination say Anytown students.

Students from Anytown University/College will converge on Anytown today (date) campaigning for the National Union of Students Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (NUS LGBT) day of action.

Like hundreds of other students across the country, Anytown students say that the current National Blood Services policy, which bans gay and bisexual men from giving blood for life is archaic. They are united in calling for a review of the policy.

The day of action will see students up and down the country encouraging friends, fellow students and passers-by to donate blood in place of the thousands of gay and bisexual men who can’t.

XXX, from XXX university/college, is coordinating the event in XXX town. He/she said:

“It’s really frustrating because lots of gay and bisexual students at our university/college want to give blood but can't because of the ban. It’s not someone’s sexual identity that makes them high risk, but their sexual practices. Heterosexual people who engage in high-risk behaviour are not banned, but deferred for a limited time; a blanket ban perpetuates the myth that HIV/AIDS is a gay disease, and does not treat donors equally and on the basis of actual risk. That's why we are here today encouraging our friends to donate in our place and talking to donors to raise awareness of the policy. Most people we have spoken to are really surprised that this kind of ban is still in place. We are calling for equal treatment for donors regardless of sexuality.”

Add here your ‘colourful campaigning’ hook: what photo opportunity is there?

Scott Cuthbertson, NUS LGBT officer, said:

“Students across the UK are very angry about this discrimination. The questions asked at blood donation sessions mean that all gay and bisexual men are banned from giving blood, regardless of their behaviour, whilst high-risk heterosexual people slip through the net. It is time that the National Blood Services changed their homophobic policy and lifts the ban on gay and bisexual men. Other countries have already changed their policies sending a clear message that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is unacceptable; it is time for NBS to do the same. The LGBT community is very diverse, and a blanket ban against all gay and bisexual men is no longer appropriate.”

He added

“NUS LGBT priority campaign this year is “Donation not discrimination”. The main tenet of this campaign is to ensure a review of the policy takes place, so that the behaviour of the individual is assessed rather than their membership of a group. ”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• For more information, or to speak to Scott Cuthbertson, please contact the NUS Press Officer, on 0207 380 6604 or email press.office@nus.org.uk
• To speak to Anytown LGBT Officer contact XXXX.
• The National Union of Students (NUS) represents the interests of over 5 million students in further and higher education in the UK. NUS is committed to improving the lives and experiences of students in the UK, ensuring their voices are heard and effectively represented.
• The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) Campaign is one of four autonomous Liberation Campaigns within NUS. These liberation campaigns seek to represent and empower individuals who experience disadvantage and discrimination in terms of status and opportunity because they belong to a particular demographic group.