California health and safety authorities are debating today whether performers in adult films should be legally required to wear condoms during porn shoots. California has its own OSHA department that regulates workplace safety matters, and it took up the issue after prodding from the AIDS healthcare foundation.
The AIDS healthcare foundation takes the position that this is a workplace safety issue.
Michael Weinstein, the foundation’s president, said: “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.”
In frank language, the petition describes all the sex acts that adult film performers undertake in the line of duty, which the group says put them at risk of infection from sexually transmitted diseases. (source)
The adult entertainment industry opposes the measure. Adult film producers take the position that mandating condoms in California productions will diminish their creative expression, and will simply result in the porn industry leaving the state for more friendly environments like Nevada or New Hampshire.
H/T: Wolman
