Canadian Blood Services Lack Of Accountability ​In Addressing Anti-Black Homophobia In Blood Donation In Canada

Statement by Dr.OmiSooreDryden:

In light of the federal government’s historic Call to Action and acknowledgment by Prime Minister Trudeau that “systemic racism exists in all institutions,” I must insist that the federal, provincial and territorial ministers of health and Health Canada intervene in this matter immediately, and address what CBS seems unwilling and incapable of doing. The aggressive behaviour of CBS staff members at the April 29 meeting, previous hostility by CBS staff members (as I outline above), and the systemic anti-Black (homophobic) racism of the agency can no longer be overlooked or disregarded.

In order to practice anti-racism, one needs to begin with three steps:
  1. name racism, specifically systemic racism, and anti-Black homophobia in the agency and donor protocols;

  2. ask how racism and specifically systemic racism and anti-Black homophobia is operating within the agency, and operationalized by staff, and;

  3. organize, strategize, and commit to disrupting that racism and putting into place an anti-racism practice, including holding people accountable for their racially abusive and aggressive behaviour.

As stated in CBS annual report, 2019-2020, “Under bylaws governed by the Canada Not-forprofit Corporations Act, the provincial and territorial ministers of health (except Quebec’s minister) serve as corporate members of Canadian Blood Services and appoint our board of directors. The ministers also collectively approve Canadian Blood Services’ three-year corporate plan and annual budget.” (p66).

Therefore, I am specifically requesting the following:
  1. That the Honorable Patty Hadju, along with Health Canada, and the provincial and territorial ministers of health convene as soon as possible to address this serious issue of anti-Black racism in the blood agency

  2. That the CBS board of directors hold their staff accountable for this racially abusive lesbophobic/femme-phobic aggressive behaviour

  3. And that CBS take public accountability for the systemic anti-Black racism and anti-Black homophobia in blood donation and in the agency.


For further information contact Dr. Dryden at omisoore.dryden@dal.ca
Click to view official statement
Click to view research in more detail

Welcome to the Got Blood to Give study website!

#GotBlood2Give/DuSangÀDonner is a study taking place in Halifax, Montréal, Ottawa and Toronto. The goal of this research study is to examine the barriers to participation in blood donation among African, Caribbean and Black men (males) over the age of 17 (18 in Montréal) who have sex with men (males).
 
We hope to change and update the current Canadian Blood Services blood donor questionnaire by removing discriminatory barriers. This will facilitate greater participation by African, Caribbean and Black men who have sex with men.
 
Our first goal is to identify the factors that best predict receiving a negative HIV test. We are using a survey to get information on the demographic, health practices and sexual behaviour of African, Caribbean and Black men who have sex with men who live in  Halifax, Montréal, Ottawa and Toronto. Those who participate in the survey have the option of taking an HIV test after completing the survey. Anyone who participates in the survey will be asked if they would like to be contacted for the next stages of the project which involves in-depth interviews about the current blood donation questionnaire and reflections on a proposed modified donor questionnaire.
 
Participants will receive recruitment cards and they can invite people in their social networks who meet the eligibility criteria to participate in this study.

For more information about the study click the document below to download an in depth information sheet in PDF format.
gotblood2give_information_sheet.pdf
File Size: 989 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Acknowledgement statement:

This research received funding support from Canadian Blood Services (MSM Research Grant Program), funded by the federal government (Health Canada) and the provincial and territorial ministries of health. The views herein do not necessarily reflect the views of Canadian Blood Services or the federal, provincial, or territorial governments of Canada.

Why we are doing this

The aim of this project is to improve the Canadian blood donation system.  Black, queer and trans communities in Canada face multiple forms of erasure and silencing. In the instance of blood donation, there is an intersectional history of anti-black racism and the current discriminatory blood deferral policy for men who have sex with men. The goal of this project is to create a culturally and gender appropriate donor questionnaire while also maintaining the safety of the blood supply.

What is Canadian Blood Services?

Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is a not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 1998. CBS manages the blood supply in all provinces and territories of Canada, except Québec (managed by Héma-Québec).
 
MSM / Gay-Blood Donation Ban:
  • 1998-2013
    Men who had sex with another man even once since 1977 were ineligible to donate blood.

  • 2013-2016
    The ineligibility period was reduced to five years, meaning that men who have had sex with another man, even one time, within the last five years were ineligible to donate blood.

  • 2016-present
    The ineligibility period was reduced to one year meaning that men who have had sex with another man, even one time, within the last year were ineligible to donate blood.
     
African countries and Africa blood donation ban
  • 1998-2005
    If you were born in or lived in Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Niger, Nigeria, since 1977, or have had sex with anyone born in or who lived in these countries even one time since 1977, you were ineligible to donate blood

  • 2005-2015
    If you were born in or lived in Africa since 1977,or had sexual contact with anyone who was born in or lived in Africa since 1977, you were ineligible to donate blood.

  • 2015-present
    If you were born in or have lived in Cameroon or Togo since 1977 or if have had sexual contact with anyone born in or lived in Cameroon or Togo, even one time, since 1977,  you are ineligible to donate blood.