Queering Blood Donation?
The Past, Present and Future of Donor Screening Practices  

JP Armstrong

Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 5 – 6 p.m. | Roundhouse, Allard Hall

Until recently, sexually active men who have sex with men were ineligible to donate blood in Canada. This policy was criticized by many as discriminatory and for contributing to the stigma faced by gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. In September 2022, Canadian Blood Services implemented sexual behaviour-based eligibility screening asked of all donors regardless of gender or sexual orientation. This shift signifies a concerted effort to maximize inclusion in Canada’s blood supply system. Join JP Armstrong as he discusses and analyzes the recent changes to donor screening practices, presenting on research that informed this shift as well as providing a queer reading of the current policy.   

JP Armstrong (he/him) is the Research Chair, Community-Based Research in the Faculty of Research & Academic Innovation at NorQuest College as well as a PhD candidate (ABD) in the Department of Sociology at York University. He is a mixed methods researcher who has experience working within and partnering alongside queer and trans serving non-profit organizations to collaboratively carry out research. 

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Queer Horizons: A Speaker Series Exploring 2SLGBTQ+ Research and Community Work Presented by the MacEwan Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity, profiles research and community work focused on 2SLGBTQ+ identities, issues and topics.

From the Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity