Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
L.A. County Votes For Porn Stars To Wear Condoms To Work
Photo by smilemisu via Shutterstock
()
Last night a measure that would require porn stars to wear condoms easily passed in Los Angeles County: 55 percent of voters in the county voted for it, while 44.1 percent voted against it.
The measure was framed as a worker safety issue by its sponsor the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which argued that the measure would protect performers from the STD scares that periodically plague the adult film community. AHF reportedly spent $1.6 million backing the measure, according to KCET.
AHF President Michael Weinstein told KCET: "Pornographers should not be exempt from the basic safety rules that protect everyone else. Public health should not be sacrificed on the false claim that this is a free speech issue; this is a public health and safety issue.''
But this morning opponents of the measure hinted that a legal challenge to the law from the San Fernando Valley-based industry may be in the works (see update below). Performers and other industry watchers said they expect production to move outside of the county if the measure is enforced. The morning Twitter was full mostly of laments from Measure B opponents:
Support for LAist comes from
now is the time to support any court action and continue to inform the public...
— Bartholet’s PO (@TRPWL) November 7, 2012
UPDATE: Vivid Entertainment founder and chairman Steven Hirsch told the Los Angeles Times that he plans to fight the measure "to the very end" or else flee the county altogether. Hirsch said his company would abide by any rules enforced by the county—and "enforced" is the key word here, because there is speculation that the county might not be able to do a great job enforcing this law. But if the law does end up being enforced, Hirsch says his company will find a friendlier county to film condom-free porn, which he says is the only kind of porn that most people will bother to watch.
Related:
Only in L.A.: Angelenos Discuss Condoms in Porn on Twitter
Our Porn Stars Get STD's at 'significantly higher' Rate Than Hookers in Nevada
Porn Star Aurora Snow Praises Condoms Measure: "Porn Directors Aren't Looking Out For Me"
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist