In my opinion, the backlash is deserved. Even if it is of the “kick the cat” variety.
Canadian Blood Services can try to reframe the conversation all it wants.
It will not find a receptive audience in the LGBTQ community.
The ban on gay male blood donors is discriminatory now and was discriminatory when implemented.
Canadian Blood Services has the technical capability to test all donated blood (and from what I understand, they do screen ALL donated blood), yet choose to brand all gay men that have sex with men (MSM) as disease-ridden carriers of HIV.
You can’t reframe that conversation without eliminating the discriminatory ban and treating all blood donors and donations equally.
Ida Mahmoudi’s Huffington Post article (“Canada’s Shortened Ban on Gay Blood Donors Still Fails LGBTQ”) provides an overview of ban in Canada and the reduction of the period of abstinence from 5 years down to 1 year.
The solution is simple: “Move toward a system where eligibility is based on behaviour and actual scientific measurements of risk, or where we rely on lab testing rather than social screening.”
Well said Geoff. Likely an oversight due to a media buy placed through programmatic or a trading desk. This isn’t the first time this has happened to a brand, and it sure won’t be the last. But the need for Canadian Blood Services still exists. Reframing the conversation and halting the negative PR is required. Now.
STOP. Let’s reframe this discussion back to what really matters here. That is the great work that Canadian Blood Services does and the ongoing shortage of blood in this country. Sure a mistake was made and the appropriate mea culpas need to occur. But in a Trumpian world and bombs going off in our own back yard, let’s focus on the right things.
Someone screwed up a media buy. The first ever error in our industry. Sounds as if some work also needs to be done with the gay community around blood donation policy. But most importantly This faux issue of a media buy gone wrong should be used to remind Canadians that only 2% of us give blood and all our needs and more could be met if this doubled. That’s an issue worth covering and addressing.
Canadian Blood Services’ ad snafu causes Grindr rage
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In my opinion, the backlash is deserved. Even if it is of the “kick the cat” variety.
Canadian Blood Services can try to reframe the conversation all it wants.
It will not find a receptive audience in the LGBTQ community.
The ban on gay male blood donors is discriminatory now and was discriminatory when implemented.
Canadian Blood Services has the technical capability to test all donated blood (and from what I understand, they do screen ALL donated blood), yet choose to brand all gay men that have sex with men (MSM) as disease-ridden carriers of HIV.
You can’t reframe that conversation without eliminating the discriminatory ban and treating all blood donors and donations equally.
Ida Mahmoudi’s Huffington Post article (“Canada’s Shortened Ban on Gay Blood Donors Still Fails LGBTQ”) provides an overview of ban in Canada and the reduction of the period of abstinence from 5 years down to 1 year.
The solution is simple: “Move toward a system where eligibility is based on behaviour and actual scientific measurements of risk, or where we rely on lab testing rather than social screening.”
Tuesday, August 16 @ 2:15 pm |
Well said Geoff. Likely an oversight due to a media buy placed through programmatic or a trading desk. This isn’t the first time this has happened to a brand, and it sure won’t be the last. But the need for Canadian Blood Services still exists. Reframing the conversation and halting the negative PR is required. Now.
Friday, August 12 @ 3:41 pm |
STOP. Let’s reframe this discussion back to what really matters here. That is the great work that Canadian Blood Services does and the ongoing shortage of blood in this country. Sure a mistake was made and the appropriate mea culpas need to occur. But in a Trumpian world and bombs going off in our own back yard, let’s focus on the right things.
Someone screwed up a media buy. The first ever error in our industry. Sounds as if some work also needs to be done with the gay community around blood donation policy. But most importantly This faux issue of a media buy gone wrong should be used to remind Canadians that only 2% of us give blood and all our needs and more could be met if this doubled. That’s an issue worth covering and addressing.
Geoff Craig
CMO
Heart and Stroke Foundation
Friday, August 12 @ 10:08 am |