‘Bloody Good Drag’ aims to increase blood donations and highlight N.S. drag artists
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$0 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.75/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
HALIFAX – Cin Diesel says today’s blood drive in Halifax hosted by drag queens, drag kings and other performers is likely the first of its kind in Nova Scotia.
The 54-year-old drag artist, who was crowned the 2025 East Coast Drag Icon, says the goal of the Bloody Good Drag event is to increase blood donations and highlight the positive impact of Halifax’s drag scene.
Diesel says this type of event is possible because Canadian Blood Services removed eligibility criteria in 2022 that prevented many LGBTQ+ people from donating blood and plasma.
Last year, the national blood service issued a public apology to Canada’s LGBTQ+ community and acknowledged the harm it caused by preventing men who have sex with men, and some transgender people, from donating blood for many years.
In September 2022, Canadian Blood Services eliminated screening questions about sexual orientation and replaced them with sexual behaviour questions that apply to all donors.
Diesel, who works as a phlebotomist with Canadian Blood Services when they’re not performing in drag, says they hope the event will increase awareness about new eligibility rules for queer blood donors.
The event at the Canadian Blood Services centre in Bayers Lake will feature a number of local drag artists, including Mya Foxx, who is appearing on the current season of “Canada’s Drag Race.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2025.