EU given guidance on donor ban for gay men

The European Court of Justice has ruled that EU governments may ban gay men from ever donating blood, but only under strict conditions.

The ruling was closely watched by activists and by governments that have lifetime bans on homosexual male blood donors, including the United States.

Most such bans were imposed early in the Aids crisis, because sexually active gay men are more likely than other groups to contract HIV, the virus that causes Aids.