AHF sponsors bill by Asm. Isadore Hall to require condoms in all adult films made in California

In Advocacy by AHF

 

After successful passage of Ballot Measure B, the County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act, which Los Angeles County voters overwhelmingly approved—57% to 43%—in the November election, Assemblymember Hall introduces legislation to expand upon the workplace protections now required in Los Angeles County to protect all adult film actors throughout California

Assemblymember Isadore Hall, III, right, speaks while Michael Weinstein, President, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, looks during a press conference hosted by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to introduce AB 332, a statewide law requiring condom use by adult film performers, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES (February 14, 2013) – California Assemblymember Isadore Hall, III (D-Los Angeles) from California’s 64th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Gardena, Harbor Gateway, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, South Los Angeles, Torrance, Watts/Willowbrook and Wilmington, held a Valentine’s Day press conference today to introduce legislation requiring condom use in all adult films produced in California. The press conference was held in Los Angeles at the Hollywood headquarters of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), which is sponsoring Hall’s legislation and which last year successfully spearheaded Ballot Measure B, the ‘County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act,’—more informally known as the ‘condoms in porn’ measure, which Los Angeles County voters overwhelmingly approved—57% to 43%—in the November 2012 election.

Darren James

Ex-adult film star Darren James speaks during a press conference hosted by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to introduce AB 332, a statewide law requiring condom use by adult film performers, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Los Angeles. James contracted HIV while working in the industry.

Measure B now requires 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 and follow all health and safety laws, including condom use by performers. Hall’s measure will expand upon the workplace protections now required in Los Angeles County to protect all adult film actors throughout the state.

Michael Weinstein

Michael Weinstein, President, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, speaks during a press conference hosted by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to introduce AB 332, a statewide law requiring condom use by adult film performers.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein and Darren James, a former adult film actor who contracted HIV while working in the industry, joined Assemblymember Hall at the press conference.

Isadore Hall III, Darren James, Michael Weinstein

Assemblymember Isadore Hall, III, right, Michael Weinstein, President, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, middle, and Darren James, former adult film actor, share a laugh during a press conference hosted by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to introduce AB 332, a statewide law requiring condom use by adult film performers.

“For several years, AIDS Healthcare Foundation sought to clarify in statute the authority of the state’s Division of Occupational and Health Safety to regulate the safety of workers employed in the adult film industry by sponsoring statewide legislation strengthening OSHA’s oversight of the industry,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Until today, no legislator in Sacramento has had the courage to step forward to author and carry such a bill. We thank Assemblymember Hall for demonstrating that courage—and the vision to recognize that workers in the adult film industry are entitled to the same safeguards and worker protections that any employee in California is. In November, Los Angles voters overwhelmingly passed a similar County measure requiring condoms and other safety measures on adult film sets throughout Los Angeles County. Through this bill, Representative Hall intends to expand and broaden these worker protections on a statewide basis. We strongly support Mr. Hall’s efforts in this arena and will do what ever we can to help pass this legislation.”

Condoms

AIDS Healthcare Foundation condoms during a Valentines's Day press conference to introduce a statewide law requiring condom use by adult film performers.

Hall’s legislation will provide statewide uniformity needed to ensure that the thousands of actors employed in this multi-billion dollar industry are given reasonable workplace safety protections needed to reduce exposure to HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Condoms in Porn Assembly Bill

A copy of California Assembly Bill 332 on display with AIDS Healthcare Foundation condoms during a Valentines's Day press conference to introduce a statewide law requiring condom use by adult film performers.

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