A new column by the Los Angeles Times‘ Editorial Board on AB 1576, a piece of legislation which would mandate the use of condoms and other barriers in adult filming statewide. The bill, pushed by AIDS Healthcare Foundation as a centerpiece of its years-long campaign against the adult business, is currently in the “suspense file” and will be shelved unless revived by the Senate Appropriations Committee this week —
Nearly two years ago, Los Angeles County voters passed Measure B, a controversial ballot proposal requiring adult film actors to use condoms when performing sex scenes. The law was presented to voters as a public health measure designed to prevent workers in the so-called porn capital of the world from contracting and spreading HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases.
But there’s no evidence that the law has had its intended effect. Instead, many adult film production companies have moved their shoots outside of the county — and in some cases, out of the state or country. Others have stopped filing for county film permits and have reportedly continued to shoot without complying with the condom mandate. In all, the number of permits issued to adult films in L.A. County dropped 90% in 2013 after Measure B went into effect, and there is no indication that porn stars are any safer today than they were two years ago.
The man behind the disastrous Measure B, Michael Weinstein (left) with AB 1576 sponsor Isadore Hall III (D-AHF). Those in the adult business argue that their voluntary system of testing actors every two weeks for HIV and STDs, and giving access of performer availability to producers, agents and other performers, is a better, more practical way to prevent the spread of disease on set. And there is concern that if the pornography business leaves its base in California and becomes fragmented around the globe, the industry’s testing protocols will be weakened and performers will be at greater risk of getting sick.
Given Los Angeles County’s experience, it’s mind-boggling that so many state legislators have backed a bill that would essentially expand Measure B statewide. Assembly Bill 1576 would require film producers to document that actors use condoms during vaginal or anal intercourse, and it would require regular HIV and STD testing of actors.
Keep reading about the madness of a statewide law that expands the disastrous Measure B…
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