Porn Industry In Trouble With HIV Increase

A sudden increase of HIV infections within the adult movie industry could lead to health regulations, sources say. But porn industry officials warn that such moves could push the $12-billion-a-year industry “underground.”

Last Thursday, a report in the The Los Angeles Times revealed that a porn actress had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation confirmed this report, but would not release the woman’s name. This public disclosure led porn industry officials to claim that this had been the first reported case of HIV in their industry since 2004. But Los Angeles County Health officials dispute this, saying that there have been at least 16 other (though unpublicized) cases of HIV among porn performers since that time.

In 2004, controversy erupted in the porn industry when a number of porn actors tested positive for HIV. The controversy derailed the porn industry for a month while an investigation into these cases ensued. Although legislative hearings were held on this matter, no laws were passed requiring “safe sex” for performers in pornographic movies.

Although no specific laws about the safety of the porn industry were passed, there are state labor codes that require protection against transmission of bodily fluids in the workplace. Since 2004, several pornographic production companies have been cited for violations of these codes, but the cases were quietly settled.

Deborah Gold, of the California occupation health department, told The New York Times that violations were so numerous in the porn industry that it was very difficult to police it.

The majority of pornographic movies continue to be filmed without the condom use of its actors. Former porn star, John Stagliano, says that “no condoms” is what the audience wants to see and nothing the government can do will ever stop them from catering to the audience’s needs.