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Condoms in Porn Industry: Advisory Panel Convenes Today
Adult actress Bobbi Starr might be reaching into Ramon's pocket to see if he's got a condom as Nikki Benz looks on. (Photo by Koga/LAist; see the rest of the X-Files-themed parody film set images here)
Adult actress Bobbi Starr might be reaching into Ramon's pocket to see if he's got a condom as Nikki Benz looks on. (Photo by Koga/LAist; see the rest of the X-Files-themed parody film set images here)
The movement to strengthen regulations in the adult entertainment industry will go forward today as California’s of Department Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) convenes its first meeting of an Advisory Panel.
The purpose of the panel, which is taking place today at the Caltrans building from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., is to gather comments from the public, health advocates, and industry officials "on whether—and how—to amend state health statutes to better protect adult film workers," according to a press release issued by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF).
Participating in today's panel are Shelley Lubben, former adult entertainment actress and founder of Pink Cross Foundation; Jan (Meza) Merritt, former adult entertainment actress and member of Pink Cross Foundation; Robert Kim-Farley, MD, MPH, Director, Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Program, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health; Michael Weinstein, AHF, President; and Brian Chase, Assistant General Counsel, AHF.
The goal is to change state health regulation in order to safeguard the industry's many employees who are at high risk of contracting a number of sexually transmitted diseases. “The adult film industry has steadfastly refused to take any steps to protect its workers from diseases spread by blood borne pathogens, resulting in thousands of employees becoming infected with sexually transmitted diseases," remarked AHF President Weinstein in March. "Clarification and enhanced enforcement of the rules are called for."
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