BURLINGAME, Calif.—In a press release issued today, the Californians Against Worker Harassment coalition announced that the California Republican Party has voted overwhelmingly to oppose a state ballot initiative that would allow private citizens to sue adult performers if a condom is not visible in an adult film. The controversial California Condoms in Pornographic Films Act has been widely opposed by performers, producers, and public health advocates.
Eric Paul Leue, executive director of the Free Speech Coalition, said Republicans were disturbed about the bill’s fiscal impact, as well as its enforcement mechanism: any Californian who views an adult film without a visible condom could file a lawsuit against performers and others involved in the production and distribution of the film.
“No worker in any other industry faces this type of harassment from the public,” Leue said. “The initiative empowers stalkers, harassers, anti-porn activists, profiteers and crusaders, while leaving actual performers more vulnerable. This initiative could open the door to similar measures for other industries.”
The Legislative Analyst’s Office, which evaluates ballot initiatives for fiscal impact, predicts the bill will cost California taxpayers tens of millions of dollars each year in lost revenue, as performers and production companies move outside the state.
Leue says the ballot measure is so bad it has been opposed on both sides of the political spectrum. San Francisco Democrats voted to oppose the measure last month.
“It’s one of the rare political issues where Democrats and Republicans agree. The bill is misguided, dangerous, costly, and terrible for California.”
