It’s not new news that a long overdue look is needed into barriers for blood donation in this country, especially the way in which they stigmatize gay, bisexual and trans people who have sex with men and create a barrier for them to donate blood when there are increased calls for more donations being needed. 

Last month in a world first, the Therapeutic Goods Administration approved an application by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to remove all questions about sexual encounters from the plasma donor questionnaire, allowing GBT people to donate via a plasma pathway, but is this the win we have been waiting for? 

Rach and Dean are joined by Dr Sharon Dane, Postdoctoral researcher on JOY Breakfast; as they dive into what exactly this means, and to find out if there’s a better way forward.