mission has therefore arranged for a study to be conducted that will provide a sound basis for a uniform Europe-wide regulation. The results of the study are expected in June 2011. 42 AOB's position Discrimination based on sexual orientation is banned under Austrian constitutional law and EU law. It is potentially highly discriminatory to insinuate that homosexual men generally have profligate lifestyles and present a positive threat via potentially infectious blood. The Council of Europe recently stated that a blood recipient’s right to protect his/her health takes priority over the donor’s wish to donate. Studies have shown that the danger of becoming sick with HIV/AIDS and of passing on the virus is greater among homosexual men than among heterosexuals. However, other studies have shown that a significant proportion of HIV-infected people were infected via heterosexual contact rather than homosexual. Research results needed Hence a blanket exclusion of homosexual men from blood donation would only be justifiable if there were clear, scientifically-based health protection arguments. At present there is no clear answer to this based on the data available. The AOB therefore hopes that the results of the European research will become available soon. Only then will we be able to issue well-founded recommendations, which must then be swiftly implemented in Austria.