HOBART, August 5, 2008  –  The first full hearing in a groundbreaking gay blood ban case begins in Hobart, Tasmania, on Thursday before the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal.

The case was lodged in 2005 by Launceston gay man, Michael Cain, after he was refused the opportunity to give blood at the Launceston blood collection centre because he indicated he was in a sexual relationship with another man.

Mr Cain said “my case is simply that potential donors should be screened for the safety of their sexual activity rather than the gender of their sexual partner”.

“I am looking forward to this important issue finally having its day in court.”

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, also welcomed the Tribunal hearing.

“In most western countries improvements to blood testing has sparked reviews of outdated policies banning gay blood donation.

“My hope is that this case will open the eyes of the Australian Red Cross to an important global reform movement."

On Thursday, counsel for Mr Cain and the Red Cross Society will give their opening addresses.

Beginning on the following Tuesday, evidence will be given by expert witnesses.

All hearings, open to the public and the media, are at the Magistrates Court, 23-25 Liverpool Street, Hobart.

Witnesses for Michael Cain will include:

● Dr Travis Porco, mathematical epidemiologist at the University of California San Francisco

● Dr Scott Halpern, senior fellow of the Centre for Bioethics at the University of Philadelphia

● Mr Bill Bowtell, senior adviser to Federal Health Minister, Dr Neal Blewett from 1983-87, architect of the Australian response to HIV/AIDS, including the deferral from blood donation of men who have sex with men, and fmr President of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations.

● Dr Anne Mitchell, Director of the Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria Unit at Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society.

● Dr Lesley Cannold, Bioethicist at the University of Melbourne

For more information on Michael Cain's case and on gay blood donation generally, please visit www.gayblooddonation.org

SEE ALSO

HIV Infection From Gay Blood Donation Likely “Once Every 5769 Years”.  The Tribunal hearing a case against the Australian Red Cross gay blood ban has been told today that if the current bar on gay blood donation is lifted, a single HIV-positive blood donation from a gay man will slip through clinical screening in Tasmania once every 197 years.  (UK Gay News, August 15, 2008)

Bio-Ethicists Address Gay Blood Donor Hearings.  Two bio-ethicists today addressed the inquiry underway in Tasmania into gay blood donation. (UK Gay News, August 13, 2008)

Tasmanian ‘Gay Blood’ Inquiry Hears that Safe Sex Works.  An inquiry into the current ban on gay blood donation has heard that safe sex is effective in reducing HIV risk.  Social researcher, Associate Professor Anne Mitchell, today told the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal that risky sexual activity is not as widespread amongst gay and bisexual men as some studies suggest.  Full witness statementof Prof. Anne Mitchell. (UK Gay News, August 12, 2008)

Gay Blood Ban Hearing: Red Cross Accused of “Scare Tactics”.   Gay activists have accused the Red Cross of scare tactics on the first day of a hearing into Australia’s gay blood ban, in Hobart today.  (UK Gay News, August 7, 2008)

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Posted: 5 August 2008 at 20:00 (UK time)