A new awareness initiative has been launched to highlight blood donation inequality facing gay, bisexual and transgender men across the world.
The latest effort is part of the Blood Equality campaign – launched by advertising agency FCB Health and the Gay Men’s Health Crisis – last year.
The initiative sees the rainbow Pride flag adorned with a blood collection bag and tube. Each of these blood bags is stitched in the colours of a country that discriminates against gay, bisexual and transgender men from donating blood.
The countries the campaign has targeted are the U.S., Australia, Canada, Brazil and Germany – although there are more countries with discriminatory blood donation laws against gay or bisexual men, and transgender people.
The organisers of the campaign said they want to “bring attention” to discriminatory laws and “inspire reform.”
They said: “Many countries, including the U.S., Australia, Canada, Brazil and Germany, endorse the fight for equality in marriage, schools, the workplace and housing, yet discriminatory criteria for blood donation remain.
“This altering of the traditional flag design, compounded with the use of exposed thread and stitching, powerfully brings to life the juxtaposition between LGBTQ Pride and discrimination.
“Ultimately, these flags aim to highlight cultural hypocrisy as a call to action, and unite these countries in an effort to advance blood equality on a larger scale.”
Each flag has a powerful message directed towards the country it addresses.
Messages include: “In Australia donating blood only hurts if you’re gay,” and: “The U.S. has tested positive for discrimination.”
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