In the US, the Food and Drug Administration have made changes to laws allowing same sex attracted men to donate blood.

Previously, gay and bisexual men were prohibited entirely from donating blood. Now, gay and bisexual men are allowed to donate blood, but only if they have been celibate for one year.

Actor, author and Broadway star Alan Cumming joined forces with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and Gay Men’s Health Crisis to create a humorous video calling for the FDA to screen prospective donors on risk rather than sexual orientation or gender identity.

Similarly, in Australia, you are prohibited from donating blood if you are a man who has had sex with a man in the past twelve months, or if you are a woman who has had sex with a man who previously had sex with a man in the preceding twelve months.

More information and access to the petition is available at celibacychallenge.com