December 29, 2009

Judge Dismisses Petition by AIDS Group to Require Condoms in Adult Films

A petition by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) requesting public health officials require condom use on adult film sets has been rejected by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, the Los Angeles Times reports. AHF plans to appeal the decision.  

According to the article, the petition was filed after an adult film actress tested positive for HIV and county health officials revealed that since 2004 there had been 18 HIV cases and more than 3,700 cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis at a clinic mainly used by those in the adult film industry.  

“We hope the county will do the right thing without being compelled to do it by court,” said Michael Weinstein, president of AHF. “This is going to be a years-long battle, and it’s going to have its ups and downs, but we know that in the end public health is going to win.”

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Previous Comments:

ksustudent, Kennesaw, 2010-04-26 12:06:23
We should tell the pornstars to wait until marriage and use cartoons instead of real actors. In the meantime, I think that catching something comes with the job of being a paid whore aka pornstar; unless your doing solo scenes. Then handwashing should be safe enough! And a condom just in case your not sure about your hands!

Shannon, Ann Arbor MI, 2010-01-07 13:42:59
This type of workplace safety issue should be a no-brainer, like smoking bans. Why put employees at risk especially when so many in the adult industry are being exploited already? Perhaps that is the point.

IamStone, Mulberry AR., 2010-01-06 08:49:20
I dont watch adult films,but I was under the impression that condom use was required as well as anual testing for HIV and aids.This judge just confirms that he could care less about other people.Just because they are adult film makers they need to be protected also.Now I realize they could insist condom use or they wont do the film,however I dont see that happening because they want the money.Its a lose lose situation and it is pretty sad.

SirEndure, Earth, 2009-12-31 20:28:56
Advocating condoms as the viable solution to stopping HIV promotes the tactics of fear and social pressure to curb sexual behavior. Condoms are at best, clinical and unsexy, but not practical for everyone (just examine the statistics on population growth). Ultimately, humans are hedonistic and sex is natural and spontaneous. Isn’t a cure for ALL better than prevention for a few? Until HIV becomes THEIR direct threat, solutions like abstinence and prevention will remain the parlous rule. BREED!

suella, , 2009-12-31 15:17:26
By ruling for the adult film industry, the judge seems to be promoting a recklessness that contradicts all the efforts being made universally to educate about responsible sexual behavior.

Audrey, kansas city, mo., 2009-12-31 13:44:31
I think it's wrong for a judge to dismiss this. It could save alot of health problems and heartach for the people that are in this sex act.

John Trapper, Long Beach, 2009-12-31 13:05:38
As someone who just got HIV two years ago after successfully evading it for 20 years, I take exception to the premise of AHF's petition. I got AIDS because I made a calculated (subconscious) decision on what my options would be. I think AHF should redirect their energy towards the drug industry. In my contemplation of living with AIDS, I included the ads placed by pharma companies where men on meds were glamourized. Porn is fantasy. I don't rape the pizza boy. Being on meds is hardly fun!

Comrade Laissez Faire, , 2009-12-31 12:42:21
Although I think it's stupid and irresponsible on the part of porn actors not to use protection, it should nevertheless continue to be a matter of personal choice, and not that of health police statists. The judge made the right decision against this proposed government coercion.

bob, st.louis, 2009-12-31 10:47:51
While I am hiv+, I still feel its a mutual decision if they want to wear a condom or not, its an adult decision, here's just another incident the govt is trying to rule our lives and control whàt we do even more