(Image Sources: Los Angeles Times)
BY ADNAN S. KHAN
ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN
A proposed ballot measure pushed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Los Angeles could force porn actors to wear condoms while filming, and has overwhelmingly qualified for the June 2012 ballot.
But the measure -- which supporters say is intended to help enforce existing state laws -- might not reach the intended climax. The proposal is being ballot-blocked by the city attorney, who says it might be illegal. According to the Los Angeles Times, she argues...
“…only the state — not the city — could legally impose rules requiring the use of condoms on porn sets and charging fees to pay for inspections.”
And KTTV spoke with a director of the Free Speech Coalition who says the initiative will have a negative impact on the industry.
“Production would move away or go underground, which means, one the city will lose money … if you wanna look at from a financial place … and two, it’s going to be less safe for performers.”
And let us not forget the needs of the customer. ABC news says...
“Many in the adult entertainment industry argue that mandatory condom use would destroy the fantasy associated with pornography.”
But the support behind the measure is anything but flaccid. CNN reports…
“HIV/AIDS advocates needed 41,138 valid Los Angeles voters’ signatures and they submitted 70,889.”
Supporters argue that the health risks associated with not wearing condoms are simply too great. Fox News cites the county’s Department of Public Health as saying adult film workers are 10 times more likely to contract STDs.
“In addition, LADPH has stated that as many as 25 industry-related cases of HIV have been reported since 2004…”
And while jurisdiction gets debated -- the president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation says the condoms issue is -- much like an STD -- just being passed around.
“This has been a hot-potato issue that everybody is throwing to somebody else. Let’s be clear on that, OK. The county throws it to the state, the city throws it to the county, nobody wants to deal with it because it involves sex.”
State laws already require actors wear condoms in the field -- but supporters of the ballot measure say it’ll give those laws another layer of enforcement.
