In light of the recent HIV crisis, Paul Koretz, Chairman of the California Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, has called on the adult industry to regulate itself or risk legislative action.
In a letter to adult industry professionals, Koretz detailed 13 “harm reduction strategies” to protect the health and safety of adult-industry performers, both in the video world and on the Internet. The suggestions, developed by Dr. Thomas Coates, professor of infectious diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a member of the UCLA AIDS Institute, include condom use for all non-oral penetration, changes in current STD-testing and screening procedures, mandatory use of herpes-suppressing medications, no ejaculation on eyes, mouth and nose, and more extensive STD-prevention education for performers.
“Somewhere between goggles and gloves and no protection at all is a reasonable set of disease prevention measures for the adult entertainment industry,” Kortez said in a statement. “The harm reduction procedures in my letter to the industry strike a balanced approach that both respects freedom of speech and provides a reasonable level protection for workers.”
The letter lauds the HIV prevention techniques of Sharon Mitchell’s Adult Industry Medical, but suggests the industry go further to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including twice monthly HIV testing “using the most sensitive detection methods available” and “monthly testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis.”
In a statement, The Free Speech Coalition’s Kat Sunlove “applauded the thoughtful and deliberate way” Koretz has handled the issue and promised the FSC Board of Directors would “carefully weigh the proposed harm reduction measures and would, in consultation with FSC members and First Amendment attorneys, evaluate the proposals for inclusion in the FSC Draft Code of Best Practices currently in development."
"Free Speech Coalition recognizes that the non-legislative, voluntary approach outlined by Assembly member Koretz has given our industry a window of opportunity in which to demonstrate its maturity and its willingness to work with government to protect talent," Sunlove stated. "Now it's up to the members of the adult entertainment community to do their part in this effort to prevent our performers from contracting life-threatening diseases that may be transmitted in the course of their jobs."
To receive a copy of Dr. Coates' Harm Reduction Procedures for Adult Media Models and Performers, please send an email to [email protected] and state that you are over 18 years of age. You may also call their West Hollywood or Sacramento offices.
