Russia and France (and Australia?) To End Ban on Gay Blood Donors

One reason I am so interested in considering LGBT rights from an international or worldwide perspective is that the United States continues to fall behind the rest of the world when it comes to rights for queers. Of course readers of this blog will know that four countries currently allow same-sex couples to get married: The Netherlands, Canada, Spain and South Africa.

Now, despite edtorials from Los Angeles Times calling for an end to the practice, the Federal Drug Administration refuses to reconsider easing restrictions on allowing any man who has had sex with a man since 1978 from donating blood (even though all blood donated is tested for HIV-1) comes word from PageOneQ that both Russia and France are ending their bans on gays being blood donors.

UPDATE: Southern Voice has picked up this story and claims that Australia is thinking of lifting its ban on gay blood donors also. Interestingly, SOVO published their article AFTER MadProfessah's original post of July 16th 9:55pm, their article is timedated July 17 5:01 pm.
Probably just another coincidence.