Kingston students who wanted to give blood this week were amazed to find that only straight donors were welcome.

Although both donation lorries at the Penryhn Road campus were fully booked this week, many students were stunned to find that the National Blood Service prohibits men who have had oral or penetrative sex with another man from donating blood.

A survey of 50 Kingston students revealed that 86 percent were unaware of the ban, with the majority vote of 94 percent, believing it should be lifted if proper measures are taken to prevent the collection of infected blood.

One first year, languages student called the ban "ridiculous," especially if gay men donating blood could "prove they don't have any infections." Third year music student, Sam, admitted he did know the ban was in place, but never gave it much thought. He said: "I think it'll come back to haunt them [NBS] when they need a rare blood type and the only person that can give it is a gay man." 

Charlie Parker, 21, executive of the Kingston Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual society said: “Many people argue that we have full rights and are shocked when they discover that gay men can’t give blood.”

The ban has been subject to much debate but the NBS state on their website that it is a precautionary measure taken to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.

An extract of the statement reads: “The National Blood Service has a public duty to ensure a sufficient supply of safe blood to meet the needs of patients in England and North Wales. While safer sex, through the use of condoms, does reduce the transmission of infections, it cannot eliminate the risk altogether.”

Human rights activist, Peter Tatchell, who visited the university during last year’s human rights week, has spoken extensively against the ban.

In an article written for the Guardian in December 2008, he wrote: “On the basis that roughly 5% to 10% of the male population is gay or bisexual for all or part of their lives, this policy excludes around one to two million potential blood donors. This is madness at a time when the NBS is crying out for donors to ‘do something amazing’.”

Parker echoing the sentiment said: “Intravenous drug users are allowed to give blood after a time, but gay men aren’t, ever. It’s a great injustice.”