“It is presumed that a particular group of persons may be suffering from sexually transmitted diseases. Medical technology and education, especially in the field of haematology, has progressed tremendously. The screening of donors is conducted for every donation before a transfusion,” says Rangnekar, in his PIL, a copy of which is accessed by this newspaper.“Today, a blanket prohibition does not stand to reason,” says the PIL requesting the top court to pass appropriate orders. “The blanket prohibition is also a violation of the right to equality, dignity and life protected under Articles 14, 15, 17 and 21 of the Constitution,” it argues. “The ban does not afford full membership of living in a society of LGBTQ+ community and thus, reduces them to a second-class citizenship,” it says.Rangnekar mentions that clauses 12 and 51 of general criteria under blood donor guidelines and blood donor referral, 2017, are discriminatory and unconstitutional as they exclude gay/LGBTQI persons, permanently, from donating blood.Rangnekar has sought a court direction to the Centre to frame guidelines that allow gay and LGBTQI persons to donate blood, with reasonable restrictions based on “screen and defer” or “assess and test” policies.
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