CLEVELAND — Los Angeles’ Measure B “is a solution in search of a problem” and there is little evidence that the spread of STIs in the adult film industry is an actual problem, according to an article in the latest edition of Health Matrix: Journal of Law-Medicine, a biannual paper published by student editors at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

In the journal’ article, “Unwrapped: How the Los Angeles County Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act’s Condom Mandate Hurts Performers & Violates the First Amendment,” author Jason Schachner wrote that most in society are familiar with the adult film industry but few understand it. And that extends to politicians and other lawmakers.

“The desire of California’s public officials to protect  the health of a misunderstood and often criticized constituency is encouraging; but like an adult film scene, Measure B’s condom mandate  does not reflect reality,” the journal said. “Performers and the citizens of Los Angeles County deserve serious legislation that is based on facts, not ‘feel good’ legislation based on assumptions.”

The 30-page article includes a thorough background on the history and issues of Measure B, including a glance at performer testing protocols employed by the Free Speech Coalition and the defunct AIM Healthcare Foundation.

It also gives a primer on the First Amendment, and answers why Measure B violates the First Amendment.

U.S. courts apply a two-tiered system of review in evaluating government restrictions on speech. The courts apply strict scrutiny when the restriction is content-based and applies intermediate scrutiny when the restriction is content-neutral.

First off, Schachner’s piece discusses why Measure B isn’t a content-based restriction on free speech, and the U.S. Supreme Court would not subject it to strict scrutiny.

“Measure B does not have an express content-based purpose, but in  practice it restricts sexual speech on the basis of its content,” Schachner wrote.

Secondly, Schachner’s article discusses why Measure B shouldn’t survive intermediate scrutiny.

While Schachner states that Measure B serves a substantial government interest because the ordinance is aimed at the secondary effects of the failure of performers to utilize condoms during sex scenes — specifically STI and HIV transmission — he goes on to say that the law does not advance the government’s interest.

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