Recently the Los Angeles Times Magazine on Sunday carried an article which examined the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among performers in the straight adult film industry. The actual extent of infection among adult film stars is unknown as there is no regulatory medical agency to monitor the industry. At best some adult film studios require health tests and infection-free certification before actors go on camera, but this is not universally required. The actors are positively discouraged from wearing condoms since producers believe the public wants to see unprotected sex.
The adult film industry in California is unregulated and entirely legal. The state of California earns an estimated $31 million in sales tax from the rental of 130 million adult videos annually. Internet sales have reached nearly $1.8 billion nationwide.
For years in gay adult films the requirements to work have been simple; HIV test certificate and consistent condom use. Whilst there is a gay ‘bareback’ video market, it is a niche one and few retail and Internet outlets carry these films from fear of public criticism. Straight adult pornographers do not abide by the same set of rules; it is up to individual actors to ask other actors if they can see their HIV test certificate or to discuss condom use.
Estimates suggest that there are only around 500 actors working at any given time in Southern California. With an average career lasting only 18 months, it is possible that thousands of people pass through the adult movie world in a decade.
An industry-backed clinic called the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation (AIM) administered voluntary STI screens to a group consisting primarily of adult film workers. Between October 2001 and March 2002 483 people were tested and about 40% had at least one infection. Nearly 17% tested positive for chlamydia, 13% for gonorrhea and 10% for hepatitis B and C. None tested positive for HIV. The chlamydia rates are 57 times higher than the already epidemic rates in the general population.
Now adult film stars are calling for the same protection afforded to sex workers in the neighbouring state of Nevada. There, prostitution is legal and violating the condom code is a misdemeanor. Brothels such as the Moonlite Bunny Ranch in Carson City, Nevada keep health and test records for each sex worker and sex workers are obliged to pay a range of fees to offset the state’s regulatory costs. Last year some of the licensing fees from the brothels were used to buy new ambulances. The regulations have all but eradicated the spread of sexually transmitted infections within the brothels.
It is unlikely that anyone in government will try to regulate the porn industry and legislative change is needed to bring California up to speed with Nevada’s regulations. The Los Angeles County Health Department, whilst aware of the explosive potential for any disease which enters a population with so high a partner turnover rate as adult film stars, is unlikely to be able to help; by 2005 their budget deficit is set to reach $400 million.
The public has little interest in protecting porn stars, despite the massive call for the work they undertake, health officials argue and producers fail to see them as employees; by claiming they are independent contractors, they are afforded no protection from worker’s compensation laws.
Sean Spense, head of erotic business of the UK-based Millivres-Prowler who make gay porn videos told aidsmap "I know that porn is "fantastical", but at the end of the day these are real people, having real sex and by using condoms I know that they are protecting themselves from HIV and other diseases."
He added that the materials produced by Millivres-Prowler sent out a strong message that as well as being enjoyable, sex should also be protected.
PJ Huffstutter. See no Evil Los Angeles Times Magazine on Sunday. January 12 2003.