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AIDS Activists To Porn Performers: Wrap It Up
On-Set: CEAgency's Here Cums The President with Anthony Rosano & Kristina Rose, 10/17/10 (Photo by Koga/LAist)
Larry Flynt of Hustler has always been a popular target for protesters, and that hasn't changed in recent years no matter how supposedly mainstream porn is becoming. At tonight's XBIZ Adult Film Awards at the Hollywood Palladium on Sunset, activists who want to see condoms used in porn films will rally against Flynt and Steve Hirsch, the co-chairman of Vivid Entertainment.Tonight's protest is being organized by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, or AHF, a nonprofit organization that focuses on medical care and advocacy. In a statement, AHF president Michael Weinstein had this to say:
“Existing California law already requires the use of condoms by adult film actors working in the state’s multi-billion dollar adult entertainment industry; however, the industry—led by scofflaws Larry Flynt of Hustler and Steve Hirsch of Vivid—continues to defy worker safety laws, jeopardizing the health and safety of adult film performers working here."
The protest comes on the heels of the LA City Council's unanimous vote last week to request that the City Attorney look into the possibility of requiring actors in porn movies to wear condoms in order for the company filming the movie to acquire a permit from the city.
But in addition to the fact that the city has limited resources to enforce such a law, there's been pushback on required condom use not just from the head honchos of porn companies, but from performers, too. In August of last year, following a complaint filed by AHF against Cal/OSHA for not enforcing existing condom use laws, longtime adult performer Nina Hartley told Salon.com writer Tracey Clark-Flory that:
"For the women, there are just four words: rubber rash/friction burn."
Clark-Flory added that abrasions from condoms can increase the likelihood that a performer will contract an STI.
The XBIZ awards -- and the accompanying rally -- will begin at 7:30pm tonight. In addition to protesting, AHF will bring three mobile HIV testing units, and hand out condoms and information.
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