Fourth Porn Actor this Year - Tests HIV+

[Agschmid]

Last Friday, the adult film industry trade association Free Speech Coalition called for a moratorium on filming after an unidentified performer was announced as testing HIV-positive.

This is the fourth porn actor to test positive for the virus this year, and the third such moratorium on filming, prompting one advocacy group to renew calls for a statewide California law requiring adult film stars to wear condoms on set.
“Are we still going to be having this argument when there’s the 10th shutdown or 20th? Or the 50th infection?” said Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the main group pushing for stricter statewide condoms-in-porn laws.

Los Angeles County passed its own law requiring condoms in porn last year. That’s pitted the adult film industry and free speech advocates who claim that such requirements are an infringement on free speech and bad for business against public health groups who say that it’s a necessary precaution in the porn business. The LA County law is currently being challenged in the courts.


Full Article: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/12/09/3037361/porn-industry-shutdown-hiv-positive/

[hrmjustin]

1. I believe in mandating condoms in porn.

[Agschmid]

2. I'm not sure I can come down on either side of the issue...

All I know is we all should practice safe sex when possible and people should certainly be educated about the consequences of not doing so.

I see to many people making poor choices when it comes to this.

[hrmjustin]

3. Good point.

Too many people not practicing safe sex.

[closeupready]

52. How would you do that?

??

[hrmjustin]

78. make a federal law stating the the industry has to use condoms.

[Egalitarian Thug]

79. And the Mexican and Canadian porn industries explode... n/t

[hrmjustin]

82. As pointed out to me the feds probably could not make the law stick.

[arcane1]

101. Or worse: German.

[loli phabay]

135. no russian is where its at, and czech

[closeupready]

80. That would be an illegal law, like flag-burning laws.

Congress could pass such a law, but it would be unlikely to survive a court challenge. I'm not a lawyer, but seems to me you can't enforce laws penalizing people a priori for expressing themselves.

[hrmjustin]

81. Your probably right.

[Spider Jerusalem]

117. This isn't a speech issue, it's a health and safety issue.

Bareback sex isn't a matter of "free expression". Prostitutes in Nevada are required by law to use condoms. Why should porn actors not be?

[closeupready]

119. "Why should porn actors not be" [required to use condoms]?

Setting aside that in a free society, government can legitimately use coercive powers sparingly, if the actors are, for example, both HIV+, the law is not protecting the actors from HIV infection, and is likely harming the business interests of the porn production company, since porn consumers prefer purchasing condomless porn films over porn films with condoms.

[Spider Jerusalem]

121. Meaningless hypothetical.

A majority of performers in the porn industry aren't HIV positive. And the clients of prostitutes doubtless prefer sex without condoms, yet they're mandatory where prostitution is legal, for reasons of public health. What harms their business interests more, a decline in interest in porn with condoms, or the news of an HIV epidemic?

[closeupready]

123. Okay, well, let's agree to disagree. I see that

there really isn't any talking with you about this, and I don't like to fight online, and you and I are usually on the same side, so I'm going to leave this thread, no hard feelings.

Cheers, friend.

[Niceguy1]

126. it is a workplace so

Osha should be able to step in.

[KittyWampus]

144. is it illegal to require chicken processors to wear rubber gloves or cooks to wear hair nets?

[jberryhill]

147. Chicken processors are not concerned with "artistic integrity"

[KittyWampus]

154. But they are paid employees working for a corporation. Amazing how some DU'ers

are for protecting worker safety, regulating business except for porn.

[jberryhill]

155. Whooosh....

They are not "paid employees working for a corporation", they are independently-contracted artists commissioned to engage in talented portrayals.

Was Van Gogh worried about lead in his paint? Did Michelangelo wear a respirator?

It is the dedicated commitment to artistic integrity which yields great classics such as the Mona Lisa, or Anal Cum Dumpers Vol. 32.

We cannot allow the entire creative enterprise of Western Civilization to be thwarted by a piece of latex!

[geek tragedy]

149. disease prevention is not a free speech issue. nt

[NightWatcher]

4. I'd be willing to wager it's all that unprotected fuckin

No one has ever said that the porn industry is made up of people who make well thought out choices, like don't screw a lot of different shady people without condoms. I don't see this behavior, and the result thereof ever coming to an end.

[Squinch]

5. Well, no thinking person has ever said that, but I've seen it said here on DU. Kind of a lot.

[joeybee12]

24. You don't think that there are porn actors who, during their off-time,

practice unsafe sex? If they're doing it there, does it really matter if they're practicing safe sex on the set? They're exposing themselves elsewhere. Besides, these are mainly young people, and young people never think something bad will happen to them...

[lostincalifornia]

74. That may be, but it would reduce the chance of passing it on the set, so it does matter

[Agschmid]

87. That's a pretty broad generalization about young people?

[Squinch]

110. That was the point being made.

[LittleBlue]

6. Porn is global

Mandating condoms will just cause them to move elsewhere. Other states and especially other countries.

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. Works for me

[jberryhill]

68. But are you going to do all that travel to your engagements?

They'll take our fucking jobs!

[TeeYiYi]

109. Well, in that case...

...they can have my fucking job!!!11!1!111!!!!

TYY

[hrmjustin]

9. That can not be helped.

There health is more important.

[LittleBlue]

12. Their health won't be impacted

They'll just move a few hundred miles to shoot the films in Vegas.

[MattBaggins]

14. So what?

[LittleBlue]

16. So a law requiring condoms in one state is pointless

when they can just shoot a few hundred miles away. It won't have any impact and may not even survive a court challenge anyway.

[MattBaggins]

22. It would easily survive a court challenge

and we don't stop local laws for silly reasons such as people moving.

Let them move who cares.

[LittleBlue]

27. Well, their taxes will move too

Porn generates revenue. I guess the question LA has to ask is, do they want to lose this industry?

Because I'll be honest, if I were a porn producer I would have already moved to Vegas regardless of the condom issue. Cheap property, low taxes and no fundie/church groups.

[MattBaggins]

29. Let them move then

We have been hearing that right wing talking point about letting industries skirt taxes, laws and regulations for years. Old news.

[LittleBlue]

31. What I'm asking is, what have you accomplished with this regulation?

If your goal is to improve the health of the porn stars, what have you accomplished by forcing them to take dirt-cheap 1-hour flight to film in Vegas? Everything else will stay the same.

To consider whether regulation will work before passage isn't right-wing.

[MattBaggins]

32. should be a federal mandate

but if they won't regulate as they should then local communities have the right to do so.

[LittleBlue]

46. Good luck with that

If you can actually get 51 US senators to talk in a debate about condoms in porn, I salute you. Even the fundies won't touch this one with a 10-foot pole, as regulation implies approval of the act.

[Inkfreak]

95. Must watch TV on CSPAN. Best ratings ever. (nt)

[DontTreadOnMe]

33. "Let them move who cares."

this is the Christian Right-Wing argument... the porn industry is a BILLION dollar enterprise... it pays a lot of taxes.

My argument is we move... you. To a different country.

[MattBaggins]

34. Ok there internet tough guy

you have a wonderful day

[DontTreadOnMe]

38. No, it's a response to someone who has not thought the issue through...

read my reply about BEING TESTED BEFORE YOU GO TO WORK.

[MattBaggins]

48. I have access to those test and others

I have access to Hep vaccines and yet I STILL WEAR GLOVES WITH PATIENTS.



SINCE WE ARE YELLING NOW.... THERE ARE OTHER DISEASES OUT THERE BESIDES HIV.

[DontTreadOnMe]

53. You come across as not knowing how the "tests" are conducted...

Porn stars get what is called a "full panel" test... which includes Hep C as well.

My first post in this thread was all about the ignorance surrounding the porn industry... your posts are a perfect example.

[MattBaggins]

59. You think you are an expert

yet you ignore false negatives.

Again healthcare workers use PPE every single time. So should porn stars.

[DontTreadOnMe]

104. Your rants are very revealing... and your agenda is transparent

What happens if a condom breaks?

[MattBaggins]

112. Treat accordingly just as they would in a hospital for a needle stick

This is not complicated. Other industries provide worker protections just fine. Why are you so hell bent on putting workers at risk?

As long as you can whack off you don't give a fuck about worker protection?



It's simple. Wear a condom. Conversation ended. Have a nice day.

[DontTreadOnMe]

114. "As long as you can whack off you don't give a fuck about worker protection?"

seriously... is your keyboard all sticky from this thread?

...'cuz I am all hell bent on putting workers at risk! You just flailed Logic 101.

[Agschmid]

118. This might be out there...

But what if this type of porn actually stopped people from partaking in the activity of unprotected sex. Sort of a if they see it and can enjoy it that way maybe they will make less risky decisions in real life?

I know I'm out on a ledge... thoughts?

[seattledo]

152. Just like gun laws!

That's why bans need to be at the federal level. Otherwise, you have what is happening in CA where the streets are flooded with assault weapons from other states.

[BainsBane]

58. Yeah, it's not like porn workers are important or anything

like animals.

[LittleBlue]

63. Why would you compare porn workers to animals?

Another Bainsbane special with a side of

[Mojorabbit]

83. What I am reading seems to say the hell with their health, they generate BILLIONS!!! IN REVENUE NT

[BainsBane]

85. I have noticed that you care a great deal about animal rights

and become angry when someone hurts an animal, yet don't show that same level of concern about human beings.
You do realize your argument that the industry will just move overseas is exactly what the GOP claims to avoid raising the minimum wage and even arguing to repeal it all together? Certainly we could aim to have the same low pay and lack of regulation as Bangladesh or Thailand, but then we will also have the same standard of living. I myself don't see becoming a Third World nation as a worthwhile goal.

[lostincalifornia]

75. Control what you can, not what you can't. This is a public health issue in a specific industry, and

Government has every right to regulate in this case

[JI7]

76. so lets get rid of all labor laws since factories move to places like China

[KittyWampus]

145. How Republican of you… lets not regulate business because they'll move. You didn't think through

your argument very well there.

The USA should sink to the sub-standards of other countries?

[DontTreadOnMe]

7. So MANY ignorant statements made about the "porn" industry...

1. FACT: The porn industry has a mandatory rule that all actors get STD Tests BEFORE every shoot.

2. FACT: All these HIV cases were caught BEFORE the actors were going to appear in a shoot.

3. FACT: All the HIV cases we caused by actors who caught the disease outside the "porn entertainment" industry. Meaning, they had "regular" sex with partners, that had nothing to do with the porn industry.

4. FACT: when you are a "porn star", and you are actively working... you are ADVISED NOT TO HAVE SEX with ANYONE who is NOT TESTED for STDS, because it could jeopardize your shoot schedule. Porn stars are booked sometimes weeks in advance... and this is for large sums of money. A common STD, like chlamydia (like a yeast infection) -- can cause you to miss thousands of dollars worth of bookings. Most porn stars are not out having sex when they are booked for work. Those that do, end up losing a lot of money.

So the idea that porn stars are out fucking around all day is just not true. Yes, there might be a few who do not go by the advice -- that's why they have STRICT TESTING.

How many people do you think contract HIV per day... out in the "normal" world? Does it make the news?
This is where people should concentrate on trying to prevent HIV.

[Vashta Nerada]

11. We're on an internet message board. Everyone knows everything about everything.

Dontcha know?

Those inconvenient facts you posted...psssht.

[closeupready]

56. lol, yup, pretty much.

[Niceguy1]

39. #2

And #3 false......

People have been infected post clean test from shoots

[DontTreadOnMe]

91. on a porn studio set? name one instance...

because you can't.

There is not one documented case where someone contact HIV on set. They all contracted the STD outside the industry.

[Niceguy1]

96. cameron bay

[DontTreadOnMe]

97. didn't contract on set

try again

[Niceguy1]

99. don't fall for the porn industry

Talking points....they don't care at all.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/2064639

[DontTreadOnMe]

100. so you ignored that your previous post was false,

but you want us to now take your next post as something relevant.

"Supporters of a ballot measure to require condoms on porn shoots released an independent study"... yeah, fair AND balanced.

This thread just keep revealing the ignorance about the porn industry.

[Niceguy1]

103. moving to avoid cobdom law

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-78267360/

[DontTreadOnMe]

106. you changed the topic a third time... do you own stock in condom companies?

Seems you don't have any real facts.

From your 3rd post...

"The county is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual tax revenue. As for the purpose of the law — to encourage safe sex — this measure appears to be completely ineffective. The movies are still being made, those rascals still aren't being wrapped and viewers won't get the voter-desired safe-sex message. As far as I can tell, the only thing that Measure B accomplished was to scoot the sets a few miles north and west."

C'mon, try a little harder... what will be your next reply?

[Niceguy1]

108. the porn producers moved to avoid

The requirements of the law...you must be a pirn producer as they are the only ones who deny there is a problem....

[DontTreadOnMe]

111. No I am not a porn producer, and I am also not ignorant about stupid laws

The condom law doesn't help prevent STDs. You can still get a STD using a condom.. and also condoms can break.

So stop trying to say that some how the condom law solves any problems. The condom law is about "making it more difficult to make porn"... nothing more. And even the article you referenced stated that the law is not working, just as much porn is being produced.

It's a flawed law. Come up with a better method to reduce HIV transmission and I will support it. Condom laws do not solve the problem.

[Niceguy1]

113. it needs to be nationwide to work

As they will just relocate to where the laws are not as comprehensive

And testing of all areas involved, not just urine needs to be required

[DontTreadOnMe]

130. current testing is blood work

they test for at least 10 stds

[Agschmid]

105. I'm not sure you can...

Really effectively prove where they catch or transfer the virus.

[DontTreadOnMe]

107. I agree, it is really hard to "prove" where a transmission has occurred

But at least credit to the porn industry, they check and require tests. So that if someone DOES fail a test, they can back track and test ANYONE who has been involved. And they hold a moratorium on any new production until everyone in the business is tested thoroughly.

As for Cameron Bay... both her and her boyfriend were prostitutes outside the industry... and they both contracted HIV. Many of the male actors who worked with Cameron Bay did not contract HIV. It is well known in the adult industry that she did NOT contract HIV on set.

As I have mentioned previously in this thread... all these HIV cases have been from outside the adult industry. That doesn't mean can't happen inside the adult industry. But rational discussion reveals that HIV transmission is a huge problem in our society... and that the Condom Laws do not solve anything. Those pushing the condom requirements usually have an anti-porn agenda, and are not really advocating protecting actors in the adult industry.

[Agschmid]

129. Read this article... Somewhat GRAPHIC (words not images)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/19/porn-hiv-penis-bleeding_n_3944401.html

Warning: This article addresses graphic subject matter that may not be appropriate for all readers.

With news cameras flashing, adult film performer Cameron Bay told reporters that in her last porn shoot before testing positive for HIV, her partner's penis was bleeding -- and he wasn't wearing a condom. After stopping momentarily, the cameras continued rolling, she said.

Bay, whose positive HIV test sparked the first of two porn moratoriums in the last month, spoke Wednesday at a Hollywood press conference with other adult film performers, including two who said they also contracted HIV this year. The press conference was coordinated by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which advocates for mandatory condom use in porn.

[Agschmid]

89. +1

To this...

This is where people should concentrate on trying to prevent HIV.

[KittyWampus]

146. FACT: Individual humans don't always abide by rules/regulations but government has an interest

in protecting public health.

[Blue_Tires]

150. Thanks for the insights

Back on DU2 I remember we had a several high profile posters who claimed to be former performers or employees or some way connected to the industry, but I think they're long since gone...

[Ino]

165. FACT: They could have been infected for some time before their tests were positive

There's a period of time after a person is infected during which they won't test positive. This is called the “hiv window period.”

The window period can be from 9 days to 3-6 months, depending on the person's body and on the HIV-test that's used. During that time, you can test HIV negative even though you're HIV infected. You can still catch HIV from someone who is in the window period. In fact, there is evidence that a person in the window period is more likely to pass the virus on.

http://www.sfaf.org/hiv-info/testing/hiv-test-window-periods.html

So how many partners did they infect before their own tests were positive? You cannot be sure that a negative test means you or your partner is safe!

[Kurska]

167. Haha oh wow, what a deceptive op

Seriously that is intellectually dishonest to not mention this stuff in the lead into the article, when the obvious implication given off is that that wasn't the case.

[William769]

10. I disagree with any laws requiring condoms.

They know the risk, they take their chances be it straight or gay porn.

A law like that is a slippery slope.

Next are we going to tell people not married they must wear condom because to many people are being infected?

How about we just stay with taking personal responsibility for your own actions.

[DontTreadOnMe]

15. The headlines about the "porn stars" with HIV are sensational

If you do a Google search about the story, look how many Conservative media outlets cover the story.

This is "all about" banning porn. The condom law in California is being driven by Conservatives in Orange County.
They want to drive the porn industry out of LA.

[MattBaggins]

19. Wrong answer

OSHA has the right to regulate industries for safe practices.

[William769]

20. Wrong answer.

The Federal Government also has a right to protect it's citizens be it porn industry or not. We can play this game all day.

[MattBaggins]

23. You are arguing my point

?

[William769]

26. I don't see how.

Now were talking about The federal Government protecting unmarried couples from having sex without a condom. After all they would be protecting the citizens. Theres that slippery slope I was talking about.

[MattBaggins]

28. Unmarried couples are not at work in a regulated industry

When I am at work I put on gloves before providing care to patients but I am not required to do so at home with my kids.

People in all sorts of industries are required to don PPE before work, porn stars should as well. This is a very simple concept.

[DontTreadOnMe]

35. Actors in the porn industry get TESTED before they go to work

If you have a negative test, then why do you need a condom?

An HIV test takes 30 minutes.

[MattBaggins]

40. An HIV test takes 30 minutes but i still have to wear gloves at work

False positives
False negatives
A wide range of fluid based transmissions

[Niceguy1]

41. because you can still

Test negative and be infected....

[Yo_Mama]

84. Because you could still be infected.

and even infect others. There is a span of time known as the "window" during which a person is infected and will test negative.

It's an issue in blood donations, and yes, "window" infections have been confirmed and have caused transmission.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/19/porn-hiv-penis-bleeding_n_3944401.html

Theory is great but practice is something else.

Edited to add an article about the 2004 case of Derren James, who had tested negative and then went on to infect multiple people. Of course, it wasn't his fault - he didn't know he had it:
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jun/15/local/me-porn-hiv15

[Agschmid]

90. Yes but it takes a whole for it to show up on tests?

At least in the oral swab tests I take.

[William769]

36. A very simple concept is personal responsibility.

People that don't act responsible do so at their own peril.

Not all business are regulated the same and not all business's are treated the same.

How long have they been trying to get this law? That should answer your question on why it hasn't passed.

[MattBaggins]

42. Same as with other industries

Porn has huge deep pockets and fuck their workers. Same as every other big business. Workers rights take a back seat to profits.

Glad to see who you side with.

Worker safety is not a personal responsibility issue. This is not Libertarian Underground.

[William769]

45. I side with personal freedom. To bad you don't.

[MattBaggins]

51. If someone wants to make movies with animals and harm them

are you OK with that? Personal freedom has always had reasonable limits.

Personal freedom my ass. Workers in this country deserve work place protections. T

[William769]

54. In my best southern charm

Have a nice day.

[DontTreadOnMe]

55. So now you are just making shit up

There are no porn companies in California making movies with animals... conversation over.

[Tumbulu]

131. this is a worker safety issue

too bad you don't seem to care about workers.

[Agschmid]

133. Even I think your attack is flawed...

It's likely he cares for workers but what if people really don't want to wear them? You going to ban them from making porn?

Read about porn lately?

It's all real amateurs doing basically whatever the fuck they want, really hard group to control.

[Tumbulu]

160. Who the hell wants to wear gloves

and closed toed shoes in a lab? Who wants to wear earplugs and a mask in mills? Good grief, safety equipment sucks for most workers, but when employers are actually held liable, then workers wear protective clothing.

For the life of me I cannot figure out why people on DU somehow think that workers in one industry only are not to be protected.

[DontTreadOnMe]

47. Sounds like you are a dentist or in the medical field...

Maybe all doctors should be required to wear a condom before each operation.

Or at least a HIV test daily.

[MattBaggins]

57. If they were operating with their penis then yes.

I have had job wear I wore full Tyvek suits, protective masks and safety harnesses.

Providing simple PPE and following Transmission Based Precautions for worker safety should be encouraged.

[DontTreadOnMe]

60. Tyvek Porn - sounds kinky!

you need to get out more...

[DragonBorn]

153. Honest Question

Why does this require a new law? Four porn actors got infected with HIV this year. That really sucks for them but don't thousands of people get infected everyday?

This may be disaterous to the individual and I don't want to seem calous but its such a statistical blip does this even merit this debate? Thousands, possibly tens of thousands of actors do porn in this country every year and only four got infected with HIV. I'd say that's a pretty damn good percentage that remained uninfected. In fact if ONLY 1000 people did porn in this country thats an infection rate of 0.4%. (Someone check my maths) so 99.96% of porn actors remained uninfected and this is only if there are 1000 actors in the US, which is a lowball estimate.

If my numbers are correct there are 1.1 Million people with HIV in America. Out of 300 million thats .33% of the entire population, so considering the low sample size of the actors I would say this is pretty on track for standard infection rates across the country.

One other point, how do we know that they didn't contract HIV in their personal lives? I mean their porn stars, they must be having sex right? Has anyone of these HIV infections been tracked to having been infected as a result of a movie shoot?

[Chan790]

162. The vast majority of the workers oppose Measure B.

As a number of performers have pointed out, they feel condoms would actually make the workplace less safe from HIV transmission because it would lead to a false sense of security resulting in performers engaging in higher-risk activities outside the workplace and that condom-usage in the conditions that exist on a porn set (theatrical sex that is rougher and longer in duration than conventional sex) increases underlying means that lead to infection by resulting in chafing, tearing, etc. and increases in contact between broken-skin surfaces and between broken-skin surfaces and sexual fluids.

I personally question why you feel you better know how to regulate the workplace welfare of performers than those performers do. It's creepy and paternalistic; you're acting like they're children incapable of making their own assessments of how to achieve and maintain their well-being.

[closeupready]

69. Yes. This is a free country. Sex is not a topic

most people want to think about, joking aside. But from what I understand, porn performers are told in advance both verbally and in writing exactly what kinds of sex acts they will need to perform.

Tell me that these films are rape footage or that the actors are enslaved, and shut them down yesterday.

Tell me that they signed contracts in exchange for fair compensation, and that at any point they could have stopped, but didn't, then, I mean, there is no issue here, that I can see. It's like sanitation work - not a job I would ever want to do, and with occupational risks to worker health and safety, but for some people, it's a living.

Additionally, two (or more) adults consented to engage in unprotected intercourse.

[William769]

70. ...

[lumberjack_jeff]

44. A studio isn't "a couple", it's a business.

Employers have an obligation to protect the health and safety of their employees.

Sure, this doesn't affect amateur porn very much, but it should affect the studios.

OSHA doesn't suggest, ask, persuade or convince welders in commercial settings to wear appropriate apparel - they require it.

But in my garage I weld with apparel of my choosing because I'm not a business.

[William769]

49. They also don't suggest, ask, persuade or convince people in porn to wear a condom.

As it should be.

[DontTreadOnMe]

50. re: 'Employers have an obligation to protect the health and safety of their employees. "

The studios DO tests for every models BEFORE they shoot. How much MORE safety do you want?

Negative tests??? that's like saying condoms never break.

[Vashta Nerada]

73. Yeah, if OSHA has that right, why haven't they made porn stars wear condoms?

Oh. That's right. Porn stars are adults and know the risks.

We don't need the nanny state in the porn industry.

[Tarheel_Dem]

128. "Nanny State?" Where have I heard that terminology before?

Oh, that's right.

[Tumbulu]

132. predictable response

sorry you express such distain for worker safety issues.

[Vashta Nerada]

134. I'm pretty sure OSHA feels the same way I do.

This whole conversation about porn has never been about worker's rights. It's about an industry where very few people here understand and don't want to understand and they feel everyone else should feel the same way as they do about porn. It's about control. Control over genres of porn they don't understand. Control over how people should have sex.

[Tumbulu]

161. OSHA is in charge of worker safety

and it has nothing to do with how you feel about it.

[Vashta Nerada]

166. Great.

Let's bring it a step further. Have OSHA make me put on a condom every time I have sex with my girlfriend, you know, for my own safety.



Again, this has nothing to do with "worker safety". It has everything to do with regulating a business YOU don't like or agree with.

[Tumbulu]

168. You have sex as a business venture?

Are you not understanding the distinction between workplace safety rules and what people do in private?

I think you do not understand an employers obligation to provide a safe workplace. This is what OSHA regulates.

Sorry that you don't understand this, don't you have a job? Aren't workplace safety rules posted where you work?

[Vashta Nerada]

169. It really bothers you that some people like to have sex w/o a condom, doesn't it?

Get over it.

[Tumbulu]

170. You cannot understand work vs private life? nt

[Agschmid]

171. I don't think you could create a law which would successfully enforce safe sex for porn workers.

In these days there are just too many ways around it.

[LanternWaste]

30. Like OSHA?

A law like that is a slippery slope...

Like OSHA? If not, what is the precise and relevant difference?

[William769]

43. Does OSHA have a regulation now on the subject.

I have not knocked OSHA or brought them up that was someone else. Maybe theres a reason Why OSHA doesn't have a regulation.

I don't know why your addressing that to me.

But I still stand by my original comment that it's a slippery slope. If OSHA ever does regulate the porn indusrty for condoms then I will address it at that time.

[BainsBane]

62. The point is that workers deserve basic protection from workplace injury

and disease. That they work in porn doesn't make them less human. The condom rules are no different from regulations protecting coal workers from black lung or textile workers from brown lung.

[William769]

66. Let's go all the way & save a child, Mandatory birth control in the porn industry.

If we are going to regulate. let's regulate!

[BainsBane]

71. child birth is neither a disease nor an injury

and condoms are birth control. I stand for workers rights. I'm not going to suddenly decide those workers rights aren't important because some people here like to watch porn actors who don't use condoms. If there isn't a regulation, workers who want to use condoms won't be hired. That's the same with any workplace safety issue. They are mandates on the employer so that workers aren't killed or injured. Unfettered capitalism that results in using workers as disposable without regard to their safety is something I will never support. That applies to whatever industry they work in.

Most Democrats support safe workplaces. Hillary Clinton certainly does.

[William769]

72. Condoms are not 100%

I stand for workers rights also. If someone is not using a condom, don't do the scene if you don't want to. I can see this is going to be a one sided story with you. You only want one part of the team taking responsibility so we will just leave it at that.

Have a nice day.

[DragonBorn]

157. Question

Why does this require a new law? Four porn actors got infected with HIV this year. That really sucks for them but don't thousands of people get infected everyday?

This may be disaterous to the individual and I don't want to seem calous but its such a statistical blip does this even merit this debate? Thousands, possibly tens of thousands of actors do porn in this country every year and only four got infected with HIV. I'd say that's a pretty damn good percentage that remained uninfected. In fact if ONLY 1000 people did porn in this country thats an infection rate of 0.4%. (Someone check my maths) so 99.96% of porn actors remained uninfected and this is only if there are 1000 actors in the US, which is a lowball estimate.

If my numbers are correct there are 1.1 Million people with HIV in America. Out of 300 million thats .33% of the entire population, so considering the low sample size of the actors I would say this is pretty on track for standard infection rates across the country.

One other point, how do we know that they didn't contract HIV in their personal lives? I mean their porn stars, they must be having sex right? Has anyone of these HIV infections been tracked to having been infected as a result of a movie shoot?

[BainsBane]

61. How about basic safety for workers?

Do you object to OSHA regulations too?

[William769]

65. Put it this way let's stop unwanted pregnancies.

Save a child's life from an abortion. Make it mandatory all females in the porn industry take birth control. Would you have a problem with that?

Show me where OSHA is in any way regulating this and then we will talk about OSHA. Until then, MAJOR FAIL!

[Behind the Aegis]

77. +1

Yup!

Just like many laws that seem forward thinking, really aren't.

[geek tragedy]

151. Respectfully, I must disagree.

There's a big difference between an economic, employer-employee setting vs private affairs.

Every place that has legalized prostitution/brothels makes their usage mandatory. How is this different?

[mstinamotorcity2]

13. They say Michigan

is turning out to be the next mecca for porn film industry.

[DontTreadOnMe]

18. not sure if you are joking... there has to be a joke in there :)

but the porn industry has been moving to Las Vegas.

[mstinamotorcity2]

25. There was a report on our local news

WDIV channel 4 in the motorcity. After Governor Snyder cut the movie making incentives for the film industry. but the Adult movie industry is taking off.

[B Calm]

17. What's OSHA got to say about this?

[DontTreadOnMe]

21. Think it through...

The porn producers are following the health guidelines... they test everyone BEFORE they shoot.

The HIV is NOT being transmitted on the set of a porn studio.

[indie9197]

115. That was my first thought, B Calm,

They make me wear a hard hat, safety glasses, and gloves at work! Why aren't they on the porn sets? It is a workplace.

[lumberjack_jeff]

37. Until recently there was a nonprofit in Hollywood which gave std testing to adult entertainers.

They were hacked the medical records were distributed online and they were sued into nonexistence.

It was a good idea and someone should reopen the clinic.

[bigwillq]

64. How many folks that do not work in porn have tested positive this year?

Where is their thread?




edited

[Agschmid]

92. Start it please...

My world AIDS day thread sunk like a rock on here.

I'd love to increase awareness!

[zappaman]

67. Condoms would kill the "rape porn" industry.

And we know how large the "rape porn" industry is!
The last thing we need is "rape porn" supporters marching on DC!

[Bennyboy]

86. What exactly makes someone a "porn actor"?

I am familiar with porn and I know that there are literally MILLIONS of people who act in porn films every year. Are these just the ones that are acting in some type of studio only? Or are we talking the amateur/robot/Brazilian/wedding orgy actor as well? I am not sure how they qualify this at all. I also have no idea how they can regulate it.

[LadyHawkAZ]

88. Predictable thread is predictable

[Agschmid]

93. It is.

[Behind the Aegis]

116. LOL! Yup!

[Agschmid]

120. But hey it's getting people to think about HIV/AIDS...

I posted some really positive stuff on 12/1 but it sunk like a rock.

[Behind the Aegis]

122. True too.

I wish I had seen it, I was in transit from NC back to OK. I used to post AIDS/HIV posts on World AIDS Day, and like your post, they sunk like a rock.

[Agschmid]

124. Apparently on DU it you need to sensationalize things before people notice.

I'm glad this thread got the view count it got, and I am glad that someone suggested a thread without the sensationalism in the headline.

[Behind the Aegis]

125. For the most part, you are correct.

We have our own culture of "if it bleeds, it leads" and then the staple topics, usually the ones that produce copious amounts of bile.

[LadyHawkAZ]

163. aha!

Well played, sir.

[Agschmid]

164. Thanks!

I try. Sneaky I know.

[AuntFester]

94. Firemen need to wear turnout gear, cops need yo wear body armor, miners need to have lanterns,

Jackhammer operators need to wear eye and ear protection, and professional swordsmen need to wear condoms.

Porn is an industry. It has employees who deserve protection. If some hot dog stud wants to go bareback, how many women would say no? Only the biggest female stars would, given the fact that porn talent is cheap and fungible.

I wonder what Careena Collins would say about this?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

102. agreed

[Niceguy1]

127. and the femals "actors"

Have said that there is pressure on them not to require protection

[In_The_Wind]

138. That's really horrible. Risk your life or give up your job.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

136. Welcome to DU AuntFester.

[AuntFester]

159. Hey, thanks!

[Soundman]

137. I wonder if the op purposely left this part out?

"None of the HIV infections this year have been definitively shown to stem from adult film sets;"

A quick check of of the cdc website tells me there is a .008% chance of getting HIV if you are a porn actor and that's if every infection actually happened on set. Two of the positive actors were a couple.

Seems to me the controls the industry have in place are working, but then again I don't have an agenda.

For further reading. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/basics/ataglance.html

[Agschmid]

139. No the OP did not.

And actually if you read through the thread it's been quite vehemently discussed. Also a second thread has been posted to discuss HIV outside of porn since as someone else indicated they are both separate issues somewhat.

However I'd like to see someone try to prove to me that there was not transmission during a porn shoot. I'd say it's damn near impossible.

Want to know why I posted the thread? Because I think HIV/AIDS prevention is important and I think raising the awareness of the disease is important.

But you keep on keeping on and assume everyone has ulterior motives.

[Soundman]

141. We agree on some points,

But I believe it should be very simple to figure this out. Have any other actors he or she were involved with subsequently tested positive? If not, then the likely hood of it being contracted on the job are pretty much nil.

I also agree that sensationalized posts get more attention as evidenced by the replies. But the likely hood of a du member getting HIV from a porn set is probably almost zero when compared to a drunken weekend hookup.

At any rate, I just don't see adding more regulations to an industry that isn't statistically significant to the overall problem.

[Agschmid]

142. Good glad we agree mostly.

In the other thread a DUer learned that they could get tested for free! And that it was readily available.

If I can teach one person that I am doing the right thing.

[Soundman]

143. I read that. That shoud probably be a thread of its own. n/t

[Agschmid]

148. Consider it done.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024157847

[Agschmid]

140. Here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024156358

[cbdo2007]

156. there will always be amateur/homemade porn

which is "unprotected" in many cases, so I'll just keep watching that.