The petitions committee of the Scottish parliament has asked for more information pertaining to why gay men are restricted from giving blood. The committee is currently considering a submission from gay activist Rob McDowall asking the Scottish Government to review the current policy that disallows gay and bisexual men to being donors, Pink News reports.

“People are being asked about their individual risk, rather than being told it’s because it’s a lifestyle choice they are making,” said McDowall, further claiming that the HIV contraction rate in Spain and Italy has fallen since lifting their bans.

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service does not consider the ban as homophobic, but a necessary precaution to diminish risk.

Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Ross Finnie commented that he was glad that the Scottish government has acknowledged that advances in blood transfusion safety procedures may allow gay men to donate blood.

“But Ministers have so far refused to do anything to introduce new and improved testing mechanisms that could make it safe to lift the blanket ban on gay men donating blood,” Finnie said. “I urge the Minister for Public Health to reconsider this position and examine the case for introducing a testing regime that would provide good grounds for the relevant bodies to look again at the current restrictions.”