LAist
By Lauren Lloyd
July 24, 2012
The vote is in from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors: Angelenos will vote on whether or not condoms should be mandatory in porn production on the November ballot.
The board voted 3-1 today “to approve certification of the results of the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s examination of signatures for the ‘County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act’ initiative petition that will require adult film producers in Los Angeles County to obtain a public health permit from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health as a condition of doing business in the County,” according to a release.
Earlier this month, safer sex advocates from AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and members of FAIR (For Adult Industry Responsibility) collected more than enough ballot petition signatures to qualify the measure, which is modeled on the county’s health permit process for tattoo and massage parlors, for placement on L.A. County’s November election ballot. After careful consideration of a report by County Counsel and the Director of Public Health on various issues regarding the petition, the board finally cast their vote today.
“Today is an historic day,” said Michael Weinstein, AHF President. He continued:
“We are extremely pleased that the Board of Supervisors voted to approve the ballot measure, as dictated by the will of the people—including the 371,000 residents of LA County who signed the petition to put the measure on the ballot. We look forward to educating the public about the issues at stake in the enforcement of condoms in adult films made in Los Angeles County, including the protection of workers in an industry centered right in our own backyard. Condoms are the best way to prevent the transmission of sexually-transmitted diseases. Simply put: no one should contract an incurable disease as a routine part of going to work.”
The measure aims to reduce the spread of diseases, including HIV/AIDS, among adult film stars by requiring performers to wear condoms during shoots. City News Service says the county’s Department of Public Health statistics show that adult industry workers are 10 times more likely to contract a STD than members of the population at large. A similar controversial measure was adopted by the L.A. City Council earlier this year.
Allan Gelbard, a lawyer who works with the adult film industry, told CNS, “This law will drive a significant portion of the adult film industry out of California, don’t kid yourself,” echoing the opinions of many other opponents of the measure.
How do you think people will vote on wrapping it up whilst having sex on camera this November? In a March poll, 63% of 1,000 likely L.A. County voters said they would vote in favor of the measure.
