I RECENTLY found out that there is a law which stops gay people giving blood.

The ban on gay blood donors is based on homophobic myths that stereotype and demonise gay men and I think that's absolutely ridiculous!

They have exactly the same blood as everybody else, and it really gets to me when people treat homosexuality as if it's some kind of deficiency.

The advice leaflet for blood donors' states: "You should NEVER give blood if: you are a man who has had sex with another man, even 'safe sex' using a condom".

This means a lifetime ban on blood donations from men who've had gay sex. It is based on the assumption that all homosexual and bisexual men are 'high risk' for HIV.

The transfusion service says the life ban is necessary to protect the blood supply from contamination.

I see no reason why gay people should be prevented from donating blood when there is such a desperate need for it, especially since all blood is screened and checked thoroughly before use.

If I ever needed blood I wouldn't refuse it if it was from someone who chose to sleep with men.

I can see why some homophobes would have a problem with it but I think those people are foolish in thinking that a gay persons blood is not worth having.

Sooner or later, Britain's transfusion service will have to review its policy, since heterosexual transmission already accounts for 32 per cent of HIV infections in the UK, and the proportion of straight infections is growing all the time.