FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 27, 2022
“Sex, Scandal and Scapegoats: Canada’s Blood Donation Ban for Selling Sexual Services”
Triple-X Submission to Health Canada regarding the Application by Canadian Blood Services for a one-year donation deferral for people selling sexual services
In Canada currently, if you have “traded sex for money or drugs since 1977,” there is a lifetime ban from donating blood. On May 27, 2022, Canadian Blood Services announced that the indefinite deferral on blood donations for trading sex for money would be reduced to one year pending approval from Health Canada.
Triple-X has submitted a brief to officials at Health Canada in support of removing the lifetime ban for sex workers. In the submission, Triple-X calls for the removal of all questions regarding sexual services transactions. “Sexual activity, not commercial activity, contributes to increased risk of sexually transmitted blood-borne infection (STBBI). Questions need to focus on sexual acts only.”
Triple-X also asks that Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada endorse and advocate for the decriminalization of the purchase of sexual services (Criminal Code Section 286.1). “Occupational health and safety, and sex workers’ role in the safe sex education of their clients, are important avenues to promote STBBI prevention.”
Triple-X’s submission to Health Canada includes a Special Edition full-colour insert featuring sex worker safe sex education in Canada from 1985 to 1995 to commemorate the 24th International AIDS Conference Montreal, 29 July – 2 August 2022. Triple-X is also distributing a commemorative enamel pin as part of their education campaign about Canadian blood donation policies for sex workers.
You can read the submission to Health Canada, Sex, Scandal and Scapegoats: Canada’s Blood Donation Ban for Selling Sexual Services, at:
https://triple-x.org/pdf/
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