My Gay Ex-Classmate Supports India’s Ban on Gay/Trans People Donating Blood

Here’s an examination of the problems with that ban

6 min read

1 hour ago

Prelude:

In 2017, India’s National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) and the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), under the Ministry of Health, issued the “Guidelines on Blood Donor Selection and Blood Donor Referral”. These guidelines permanently categorise transgender persons, men who have sex with men (MSM), and female sex workers as “high-risk”, barring them from donating blood solely on the basis of identity and presumed risk, not individual behaviour.

In May 2025, while hearing petitions challenging the constitutionality of this exclusion, the Supreme Court asked the central government to seek expert opinion on removing discriminatory elements while maintaining blood safety. Yet, despite judicial scrutiny and evolving scientific understanding, the ban continues to remain in force as the courts examine its fairness and scientific basis.

So, a few days ago, I found myself in an uncomfortable conversation with an ex-classmate. He is gay. He openly identifies as such. And yet, he strongly supported the Indian far-right government’s decision to restrict gay men and trans persons from donating blood.