AHF’s Weinstein Tries To Save Face Over AB 1576 By Pointing to Producers Fined by Cal/OSHA

The only thing more pathetic than an aging hipster is a man who’s completely lost his battle plan, waving his cutlass on the main deck as his ship heads for the rocks.

The following comes from today’s AIDS Healthcare Foundation press release, which crows about the fining of gay porn producer Jake Cruise Media:

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has learned that California’s Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), has issued workplace safety violations and fines totaling $11,360 against adult film production company Jake Cruise Media for its productions of condom-less, or ‘bareback’ adult films. Cal/OSHA issued three citations and fines: 1) for not having an Exposure Control Plan (serious citation)—fine: $5,400; 2) for not observing universal precautions (e.g. using condoms in filming—serious citation)—fine $5,400; and 3) for not having an Injury and Illness Prevention Program in place (general citation)—fine $560.

As we’ve reported previously at TRPWL, AHF plays pretty loose way with the facts relating to Cal/OSHA fines, so we’ve reached out to Jake Cruise Media for their side.

UPDATE: The official investigation by Cal/OSHA was opened March 28, 2014, and closed on July 28. The three citations were issued August 4, 2014. Here is the Jake Cruise Media OSHA inspection report:

Jake Cruise’s reaction on Twitter:

 

It’s also interesting to note that “AHF has learned” about the fines. From whom, I wonder? Hmmmm…

Weinstein has spent millions to get condoms laws passed and enforced against adult producers and performers to no avail —  so his desire, post-AB 1576, to save face with this press release is palpable.

“Despite the fact that Assembly Bill 1576, Isadore Hall’s bill to require condoms in all adult films made in California, failed to get out of the Senate Appropriations Committee in Sacramento this year, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s latest fine to an adult film industry production company—in this instance, to Jake Cruise Media—for bareback filming serves as a reminder to the industry that condom use in adult film production already is—and remains—the law under existing Cal/OSHA authority,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “The porn industry has simply chosen to ignore these laws, with few, if any, repercussions to date for producers. We are glad to see that OSHA is looking out for worker safety and reminding the entire industry that condom use—regardless of past or future legislation in Sacramento—already is the law.

Of course AHF knows very well it isn’t the law — and if it were really the law, why would AHF be pushing so desperately for new laws and regulations?