Porn Measure Aimed at Ballot: Actors Would Have to Use Condoms for Adult Filmmakers to Obtain Permits from L.A.

A measure backed by AIDS Healthcare Foundation would let voters decide whether condom use should be required on Los Angeles adult-film sets in order for producers to secure a filming permit. To add the issue to the June 2012 ballot, AHF needs to submit a petition with at least 41,138 qualifying signatures (15 percent of all votes cast in the last mayoral election) by Dec. 23, city election officials said.

In May, the City Council voted unanimously not to require condoms as part of the permitting process for porn producers, but rather to urge state and county officials to allow them to do so. In addition, Los Angeles County officials denied AHF’s mandate request in February. The nonprofit had previously unsuccessfully sued the county over the issue, and failed to persuade state and federal workplace health and safety officials to intervene and require condom use in the industry.

“Since we couldn’t get the City Council to act, we have decided to take it directly to the people of Los Angeles. We’d rather take our chances with the electorate than with the cowardly political establishment,” said AHF President Michael Weinstein.

“We are not anti-porn,” Weinstein said, but “a little piece of latex has the ability to save lives.” The measure also would require city officials to periodically inspect porn film sets to ensure compliance.

AHF has hired a professional signature-gathering group for the campaign. If its efforts are successful, the nonprofit plans to lobby every council district, said Weinstein.

Diane Duke of the Free Speech Coalition, an adult-entertainment industry trade group, said this latest effort is an attempt by AHF to “stay relevant.” “Clearly their efforts and financial resources would be much better served in the prevention and treatment of HIV rather than continuing its witch hunt of the adult entertainment industry,” she added.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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