Citywide Ballot Initiative For Porn Condom Use Launches Today

Photo by robertelyov via Flickr.

Future Los Angeles voters may have the pleasure (or displeasure) of weighing in on a measure regulating condom use in adult films. Former adult performers - including two infected with HIV while working in the porn industry - join forces with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) this morning to host a press conference on the new L.A. City ballot initiative.

The measure would connect the issuance of adult film permits by the City of Los Angeles to condom use in adult films shot and produced in L.A. It would also require fee collection from adult film permit recipients to allow periodic inspections of sets to monitor compliance.

Michael Weinstein, AHF President, spoke at length about the unsafe industry conditions and need for regulation.

“At present, animals working in film & TV productions in Los Angeles enjoy more safety and health protections than adult film performers do. There are laws and state statutes to protect adult performers—but there is no real enforcement. Fair is fair: these performers deserve the health and safety protections already afforded them under existing law. All levels of government need to be involved in this workplace safety—State, City, County, Federal & local municipal bodies—including in the albeit non-traditional workplaces: the porn sets located throughout the San Fernando Valley that churn out billions of dollars of adult fare each year that violates state health statutes and puts performers at risk. To date, the City of Los Angeles and the City Council have been unwilling or unable to put forth a motion tying adult film permits to condom use in the productions, or County, to enforce state statutes. This is why we have spearheaded this ballot initiative: so the people—the voters in Los Angeles—may decide on this important health and safety issue affecting adult film performers.”

Adult film industry professionals are ten times more likely to be infected with a sexually transmitted disease than members of the population at large, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health (LADPH).

Tuesday's press conference also includes the launch of For Adult Industry Responsibility (FAIR), a campaign focused on gathering signatures and support for the ballot initiative.

The ordinance will be known as the City of Los Angeles Safer Sex In The Adult Film Industry Act.

Should the measure meet ballot, how will you vote, Los Angeles?