Long-time gay rights advocate Rodney Croome has given blood for the first time in his life after Australia scrapped the three-month abstinence rule that kept most gay and bisexual men out of donor chairs for decades.
Croome rolled up his sleeve on Monday at the Devonport Lifeblood Collection Centre, the same day the new rules took effect nationally.
“After three decades of advocacy and for the first time in my life, I was able to donate blood today,” he said.
“Decades ago, when I first found out I couldn’t donate blood, I vowed to myself that when I could I would. Finally that day has come.”
From today, all donors are asked the same questions about sexual activity, regardless of gender or sexuality.
Men are no longer asked whether they have recently had sex with another man.
Instead, donors are asked whether they have had a new sexual partner in the past six months and whether they have had more than one partner during that time.
Those who answer no to both questions can give blood straight away.
The change was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in 2025 after a submission from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, backed by research, risk modelling and community feedback.
Lifeblood expects the new rules to lead to up to 20,000 extra blood donations each year.
Every week, 33,000 donations of blood, plasma and platelets are needed to treat cancer patients, people with bleeding disorders and trauma victims.
Croome said he hoped his donation would encourage others who had been turned away in the past to come back.
“I want my donation to encourage newly-eligible donors to put all that behind us, roll up our sleeves and give the gift of life,” he said.
He thanked staff at the Devonport centre and the advocates who campaigned for the change over three decades.
But Croome said the new system still had problems.
Donors who have had a new or multiple sexual partners in the past six months face a six-month wait before they can give blood.
“Three months is considered more than enough in the UK, US and Canada. It should be here too,” he said.
The ‘Let Us Give’ campaign, which Croome helped lead, will keep pushing to cut the wait time in line with other countries.
