California STD Controllers Association endorses condoms in porn Ballot Measure B in L.A. County

In News by AHF

STD Controllers Association (CSTDCA) joins the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA) in formally endorsing measure on November ballot in L.A. County that will, “…require producers of adult films to obtain a public health permit from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health…and pay a permit fee…sufficient for necessary enforcement.”
Other groups that have previously expressed support for condom use in adult films include the American Medical Association, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, American Association of STD Controllers, American Public Health Association, the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV and UCLA

LOS ANGELES (September 28, 2012) The California STD Controllers Association (CSTDCA), the organization of local public health officials in the State of California who are responsible for the prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases in each of their local jurisdictions, has formally endorsed Los Angeles County Ballot Measure B, the so called ‘condoms in porn’ ordinance that will appear on the November 6th election ballot throughout Los Angeles County. When passed, Measure B will, “…require producers of adult films to obtain a public health permit from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health…and pay a permit fee…sufficient for necessary enforcement.”

CSTDCA polled its members on the issue, and earlier this week announced that members formally voted to endorse the measure, known as the County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act. The STD Controllers Association now joins the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA) as the second major health group in formally endorsing Ballot Measure B. However, the Executive Board of CSTDCA, and several other groups and associations have previously expressed support for condom use in adult films including the American Medical Association, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, American Public Health Association, American Association of STD Controllers, American Public Health Association, the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV and UCLA in calling for improved adult film worker safety and enforcement of condom use requirements in adult films. Backers of Measure B are also now seeking formal endorsements of Measure B from many of these other health organizations.

“We are grateful to now also have the formal endorsement of Ballot Measure B by the California STD Controllers Association, a respected statewide group of professionals who are responsible for the prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases throughout California,” said Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation and one of the five named proponents of the ballot initiative. “This measure is a matter of fairness. It’s about protecting the rights of all Californians—including the actors performing in these films— to a safe and healthy workplace, which requires condom use by these performers.”

Ballot Measure B is being spearheaded by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and members of the advocacy group, FAIR (‘For Adult Industry Responsibility’), after at least nine HIV infections believed to be industry-related were reported in two outbreaks in Los Angeles since 2004, and amidst thousands of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occurring annually among adult performers. The ballot measure also comes at a time when an outbreak of syphilis, a highly contagious, but curable STD, is roiling L.A.’s adult film industry and shut down the entire industry for several weeks earlier this summer.

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