‘Misinformed vandals’ target wrong agency for restrictions on trans blood donors

HALIFAX — The Canadian Red Cross says a “misinformed vandal” went on a graffiti spree on its Nova Scotia headquarters and vehicles, protesting transgender blood-donation policies even though the charity hasn’t collected blood for two decades.

The Red Cross said Monday signs around its building in Dartmouth, two trailers, two trucks, a van and a sedan were all defaced with permanent markers sometime late Friday or early Saturday.

The all-caps graffiti said the society “discriminates against trans women” and stated “all trans women are women. No surgery needed.”

But the Red Cross said it hasn’t collected blood since the 1990s, when Canadian Blood Services took over the job.

“We were a little puzzled because of the wording of the message,” Dan Bedell, the Red Cross’s regional communications director, said Monday.

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“We weren’t even aware of what the issue was, quite frankly, I had to look it up online. It was really misdirected against us.”

Canadian Blood Services is changing its donor policies as of this month, saying on its website that it will accept donations from trans men one year after they have had genital surgery.

The Red Cross says staffers spent some of their long weekend cleaning up the mess, but some repainting may be necessary, including of the building’s main exterior sign.

“If people have views to express, there are lawful ways to do it,” said Bedell, who said the graffiti appears to be the work of one person.

The costs have not yet been determined, but Bedell said they’re hoping it’s in “the hundreds, rather than thousands of dollars.”

The Canadian Press