557,136 Signatures Submitted for 2016 Condoms in Porn Ballot Measure in CA

In News by AHF

L.A. Press Conference, Monday, September 14th 11:00 am

Group is filing 557,136 signatures throughout California by Monday deadline; 365,880 valid signatures of registered voters are needed to qualify measure for November 2016 California ballot.

Safer sex advocates to also announce filing of seven more safety complaints against porn producers with both Cal/OSHA and the L.A. County Department of Public Health for filming in L.A. without condoms—filming that also exposes the industry lie that adult film production has all but abandoned Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES (September 13, 2015) Safer sex advocates affiliated with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), and the group, FAIR (For Adult Industry Responsibility), are pleased to announce that they have collected—and will be filing by today’s deadlines in all 58 California counties statewide—557,136 signatures of registered voters in order to qualify for a statewide ballot initiative that would expand the power of Cal/OSHA and local California public health departments to enforce condom use on adult film sets throughout the state. Just 365,880 valid signatures are needed to qualify the California Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act, which when signatures are verified, will appear on the November 2016 ballot in California. The measure is intended to prevent thousands of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that occur among performers each year in the industry and comes after nearly two dozen adult performers became HIV-infected while working in the industry between 2004 and 2014.

 

WHAT:       PRESS CONFERENCE & TELECONFERENCE

Advocates to file 557,136 voter signatures for statewide condoms in porn ballot measure; AHF to file an additional seven (7) film safety complaints against porn producers with both Cal/OSHA and the L.A. County Department of Public Health for filming in L.A. without condoms or permits.

WHEN:       MONDAY, September 14th 2015—11:00 AM Pacific  

WHERE:      Sheraton Universal Hotel, Director & Writer Rooms, Terrace Level

333 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, CA 91608

WHO:

  • Cameron Bay (Adams), former adult film performer who became HIV positive while working in the industry in 2013
  • Sofia Delgado, former adult film performer who became HIV positive while working in the industry in 2013
  • Derrick Burts, former adult film performer who became HIV positive while working in industry in 2010
  • Darren James, former adult film performer who became HIV positive while working in the industry in 2004
  • Tiffany Maples and Vanessa Blake, former adult performers who support condom use in adult films
  • Michael Weinstein, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, President
  • Adam Cohen, Public Health Consultant, AHF

 

Teleconference Dial in information: +1.877.411.9748 participant code #7134323

AHF CONTACTS FOR MEDIA CREDENTIALING:  Ged Kenslea, (323) 791-5526 cell (323) 308-1833 officeChristopher Johnson (310) 880-9913 cell (323) 960-4846 office

California Statewide Condom Ballot Measure

The California statewide condom ballot measure, known as ‘The California Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act,’ is modeled on Measure B, a similar measure officially known as the ‘County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act,’ which passed with overwhelming voter support—57% to 43%—in the November 2012 election in Los Angeles County. Initial polling on the proposed statewide measure that was conducted in September 2014 suggests as many as 71% of the state’s voters would back the measure.

“By today’s filing deadlines, we will have submitted a total of 557,136 signatures in all fifty-eight counties throughout California in order to qualify this statewide ballot measure regulating condom use and safer sex practices in California’s adult film industry for the November 2016 ballot,” said Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the citizen proponent of the state measure. “In an abundance of caution, we collected 191,256 more signatures than we needed to qualify. In 2012 in Los Angeles with Measure B and with our initial polling for this measure, voter sentiment favoring safer sex in adult films is clear: unlike most politicians, voters are not squeamish about this issue, seeing it as a means to protect the health and safety of performers working in the industry. It’s only fair that adult film performers be afforded the same safeguards as other Californians in their workplaces. In November 2016, we anticipate California voters will once again reaffirm this important principle.”

“Porn producers tell the media that performers have a choice when it comes to condoms. What they don’t tell you is that if a performer wants a condom, they’re paid less. Sometimes, producers will fire you for asking. We’re replaceable. They’ll say, ‘I have three girls waiting to take your place, and they’ll shoot without condoms.’ So where’s the choice in that?”, said Cameron Adams, a former adult film performer who became infected with HIV while working in the industry in August 2013. “I worked in the adult film industry for just a few months. Each month, the industry said I had to get tested for STDs and pay for them out of my own pocket. $300 bucks a month. They told me testing would keep me safe. Prevent infections. What they didn’t tell me is that those tests aren’t complete. They miss infections all the time. Plus, testing doesn’t stop infections. Testing only tells you what you got. And I got HIV.”

The advocates’ push for a statewide California law via ballot initiative came about as means to expand the safety regulations protecting adult film performers working anywhere in the state. It also came about after the delayed implementation and roll out of Measure B in Los Angeles—delays that advocates largely attribute to legal challenges from the adult film industry as well as bureaucratic indifference by L.A. County officials.

The adult industry filed a lawsuit soon after Measure B passed in 2012 alleging free speech infringement of the First Amendment rights of the performers and adult producers. However, in a December 2014 decision, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the adult industry’s First Amendment claims and upheld Measure B, noting that, “…Measure B, passed in 2012, was designed to address the spread of disease and is narrowly tailored to that end.”

The title and summary issued by the State of California for the measure reads as follows:

The California Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act’

“Requires performers in adult films to use condoms during filming of sexual intercourse. Requires producers of adult films to pay for performer vaccinations, testing, and medical examinations related to sexually transmitted infections. Requires producers to obtain state health license at beginning of filming and to post condom requirement at film sites. Imposes liability on producers for violations, on certain distributors, on performers if they have a financial interest in the violating film, and on talent agents who knowingly refer performers to noncomplying producers. Permits state, performers, or any state resident to enforce violations. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Potentially reduced state and local tax revenue of millions or tens of millions of dollars per year. Likely state costs of a few million dollars annually to administer the law. Possible ongoing net costs or savings for state and local health and human services programs.(15-0004.)” 

Confirmed support for the California “Safer Sex” 2016 ballot initiative:

  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – District IX
  • American Sexual Health Association
  • Beyond AIDS
  • California Academy of Preventive Medicine
  • California Communities United Institute
  • California State Association of Occupational Health Nurses
  • San Francisco Medical Society

Policy supporters for condom use in the adult film industry:

  • American Medical Association
  • American Public Health Association
  • California Conference of Local AIDS Directors
  • California Division of Occupational Safety and Health
  • California Employment Lawyers Association
  • California Industrial Hygiene Council
  • California Medical Association
  • California Public Health Association – North
  • California STD Controllers Association
  • Health Officers Association of California
  • Journal of Sexually Transmitted Infections
  • Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
  • Los Angeles County Medical Association
  • National Coalition of STD Directors
  • Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
  • San Francisco City and County Department of Public Health
  • Southern California Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health
  • Ventura County Board of Supervisors
  • Western Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association
  • WORKSAFE

AHF Files Seven Additional Safety Complaints with Cal/OSHA & L.A. County Dept. of Public Health

In addition, the safer sex advocates will also announce the filing of seven (7) additional workplace safety complaints against porn producers with both Cal/OSHA and the L.A. County Department of Public Health for filming in L.A. without condoms. Among the newly cited producers are James Deen Productions, Brazzers, Evil Angel Productions, Jules Jordan Video, Burning Angel, Zero Tolerance Entertainment and Elegant Angel. A cursory review by safer sex advocates affiliated with AHF and FAIR identified at least seven (7) adult film productions by these producers that were shot in Los Angeles between May 6, 2015 and July 30, 2015 WITHOUT with any condom use, nor with any film permits taken out. Not only did this review expose film permit and condom safety violations, it also peels back the industry lie—and frequent mainstream media misrepresentation—that adult production has plummeted over 90% and that the porn industry has all but abandoned filming in Los Angeles. Producers are simply not taking out required film permits.

The new safety complaints include the following producers & productions:

  • James Deen, Productions: “Stockholm Syndrome” filmed June 28, 2015
  • Brazzers: “Fourth of July: Big Butt Independence” filmed May 27, 2015
  • Zero Tolerance Entertainment: “How to Train Your Teen’s Ass” filmed May 11, 2015
  • Burning Angel: “Ronda ArouseMe” filmed July 30, 2015
  • Evil Angel Productions: “His Ass is Mine #2: MILF Edition” filmed May 6, 2015
  • Jules Jordan Video: “Bra Busters 7” filmed July 15, 2015
  • Elegant Angel: “Busty Workout” filmed June 27, 2015
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