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A positive HIV test put the brakes on porn production in Los Angeles. Activists say it might be time for the multi-billion dollar industry to change.
“The porn industry in LA has been shut down temporarily because of an HIV scare. An unnamed adult film actor tested positive for HIV over the weekend temporarily stopping production across southern California. The actor is currently undergoing thorough further tests to confirm the results...”
So how did this happen? Adult film actors are required to test every 30 days, and show proof of a negative STD test before they perform, but a CNN contributor says key information might have been lost when the actor was tested out of California.
“The testing folks were required to be reporting portions of the test results to them so the public health officials could be monitoring and making sure that secondary testing was going on [FLASH] but in this case, it’s not really clear whether state or other government officials have been notified or involved in that process.”
Positive or not, the potential botching of the test has rekindled an old debate. Should adult film actors be required to use protection? Several including the LA Times are recalling another adult film actor, Derrick Burts, who contracted HIV last year while filming.
The LA Times reports Burts and others are teaming up to make condom use industry law.
“Burts has since joined an effort by Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation to get a measure placed on the city’s June 2012 ballot that would require adult film performers to use condoms in porn productions that seek Los Angeles city film permits."
The industry in southern California says it will halt all production until the actor’s second results come in next week.
Transcript by Newsy.
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