Posts
After a third adult-film actor tested positive for HIV in
one month, the California HIV advocacy group AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)
launched a robocall against Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles), who it says
is holding up legislation for state-wide mandatory condom use in adult films.
The mandate was approved by Los Angeles county voters last year, but is on hold
in the state senate because it is similar to a bill introduced earlier by
Gatto.
“We lay complete blame for this outbreak at the feet of
Assemblymember Gatto, the pornographers, and Los Angeles County,” Michael
Weinstein, AHF President, said in a statement. “How many more before we act?”
Gatto denied he is blocking the bill.
The adult-film industry instituted a voluntary weeklong halt
on shooting after an actress tested positive last month for HIV. Last week,
another adult-film actor, who is romantically linked to the aforementioned
actress and performs mainly in gay films, tested positive for HIV. Late last
Friday, a third actor was confirmed to test positive for HIV, prompting the AHF
to call for an additional moratorium on filming and appealed to California
Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles) to move the bill forward.
Free Speech Coalition, the trade association representing
the adult-film industry, said the actress who tested positive last month has
not appeared in a film since the first moratorium. “While we don't have
evidence to suggest an on-set transmission as opposed to a transmission from
non-industry (off-camera)-related activity, we are taking every measure to
determine the source and to protect the performer pool,” the coalition said in
the statement.
