Gay activist says blood donor rules discriminatory

The Red Cross is being asked to explain why it is now easier for people who have been pierced, tattooed or had acupuncture to become blood donors, but not gay men.

The organisation is allowing such people to donate blood six months after their procedure - down from 12 months - under new donation guidelines from next month.

But the guidelines for gay men donating blood stipulate they cannot be donors within one year of male-to-male intercourse.

Tasmanian gay and lesbian rights spokesman Rodney Croome says that is discriminatory.

"The fact the Red Cross is willing to review its current donor guidelines for people who have piercings and acupuncture and tattoos, but not review guidelines when it comes to gay blood donation, really does suggest the Red Cross is, at best, engaged in some fairly arbitrary decision-making, or at worst, is just downright homophobic," he said.

Campaigner Michael Cain says the guidelines are a double-standard and should be independently reviewed.

"What it needs to do is go to an independent body so we can get transparency, credibility and impartiality so we can get a truly inclusive review," he said.