WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—Beer, burgers and bingo were just part of the fun during Monday night's No on Measure B fundraising event at Hamburger Mary's held by the Free Speech Coalition and organized by the No on Government Waste Committee.
In addition to Drag Queen Bingo, attendees also participated in live and silent auctions to help raise money to counter the measure financed and placed on the ballot by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. James Lee, communications director for the No on Government Waste Committee, told the crowds that the measure is so poorly written that not only would it require condoms be used in all porn productions, but that it could penalize any producer of adult content that doesn't include safety measures such as condoms, dental dams, etc. The definition of "producer," he said, can include anyone who funds, directs or creates content.
"That means if two of you are at home and film yourselves on your iPhone and later put it on a website, you can be fined if there is no condom," he told the crowd.
Diane Duke, executive director of the FSC, also addressed the crowd, thanking them for their time and monetary donations toward the cause. She announced that several major companies—Evil Angel, Hustler, Manwin and Vivid—donated a combined total of more than $100,000 in cash and goods for the auctions.
Additional money was raised by a $20 cover charge for the event that covered the bingo portion evening. Winners of the games took home prizes of movies, toys and swag from a number of adult companies. Adult industry veterans in the crowd included Nina Hartley, Amber Lynn, Kimberly Kane and Dana DeArmond.
Measure B, funded and placed on the ballot by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, would require the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to license and permit adult movie productions in the county and require performers to wear condoms and other "barrier protections" as well as create an unworkable system of on-set inspections and enforcement by county personnel. The county estimates initial start-up costs for the program to be in excess of $300,000, but acknowledges that regardless of the level of compliance by the adult film industry, there would be significant cost to the Department of Public Health.
The No on Government Waste Committee is composed of entertainment companies, local business organizations, community activists, adult entertainment performers and healthcare advocates who oppose Measure B's plan for creating an underfunded government inspection program diverting badly needed resources from local community clinics and underserved minority communities.
For more information, visit NoOnGovernmentWaste.com.
