At times, it’s hard to understand as to why a healthy person is discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation for donating blood. It is well understood that if a person is suffering from an infectious disease, then they are not permitted to donate, but a person who is not straight is not allowed to donate blood. Why?

It has been since her college days in 2006, that Karen has been donating blood, even after knowing that her sexual orientation does not allow her to do so. She is banned to donate blood, still she donated, and until recently, an amendment got effective this July 1.

"I'm healthy. Sexual orientation has no relation to blood safety, it just depends on whether you engage in risky behavior or not", said the 26-year-old.

Common Language, a community based group, which supports and fights for the rights of lesbians, bisexual women and people who are transgender, carried out a survey in 2008, which included 21 lesbian and bisexuals.

It was discovered that all of them had donated blood; instead 14 of them had donated more than twice. Amongst them, two were at first denied to donate blood, after they unveiled their sexual orientation. However, other centers accepted them as potential donors, but they did not reveal their sexuality at those centers.