The NHS Blood and Transplant branch has made its blood donation eligibility rules against the LGBTQI+ community less restrictive in England, Scotland and Wales, marking World Blood Donor Day today, but the remaining restrictions disproportionately affect Black people, advocates say.

Eligibility for blood, plasma and platelette donation will now be based on individual circumstances including health, travel and sexual activity, in contrast to the restrictions before, which screened out ‘men who had sex with men.’

Folks who have had the same sexual partner for the last three months are eligible, but the rules vary for new partners, exposure to an STI or use of PrEP or PEP.

“Our priority is to make sure that donors are able to answer the pre-donation questions in a setting that makes them feel comfortable and safe and donation is something that continues to make people feel amazing,” Ella Poppitt, Chief Nurse for Blood Donation at NHS said in a statement.

In a statement, Deborah Gold, Chief Executive of National AIDS Trust, pointed out that there’s still a three month restriction in England for those who’ve slept with someone from parts of the world where HIV and AIDS are ‘common’.

“This criteria is vague, perpetuates misleading stereotypes around HIV and also disproportionately impacts on Black people in the UK, particularly those of Black African backgrounds,” Gold said.