LA Times: AIDS group files complaint with county over unprotected sex in porn

In News by AHF

LA Times

Citing lax enforcement by the county, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation lodged a complaint Monday accusing a Los Angeles porn studio of filming unprotected sex in defiance of a new law that requires adult performers to use condoms.

Measure B, which mandates that porn actors use condoms and take other safety measures, took effect in December after it was approved a month earlier by about 56% of the countywide vote.

The complaint — addressed to Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health — contends Immoral Productions films performers not using protection and violates several other provisions of the law, despite receiving a permit from the county.

“We’re putting them to the test,” said foundation President Michael Weinstein. “If democracy means something in L.A. County — if porn producers and county supervisors are not above the law — then they will enforce it.”

The foundation, a longtime critic of the county health department, filed the complaint after receiving an anonymous letter with an accompanying videotape filmed by someone on an Immoral Productions set, Weinstein said. He declined to say whether the source was a performer but added that the person was not affiliated with the foundation.
The foundation also reviewed content on Immoral Productions’ website to confirm that condoms weren’t being used, Weinstein said.

The letter also said that Immoral Productions failed to provide proof of blood-borne pathogen training, did not submit a plan for controlling exposure to diseases and does not display a legible sign notifying production staff that condoms are required.

Immoral Productions and its attorney did not respond to requests for comment Monday night. The Chatsworth adult film company was also raided in May by the Los Angeles Police Department’s vice squad for conducting a live webcam show without a permit, according to Adult Video News.

Weinstein said he has not seen any enforcement efforts from the county besides issuing a letter informing adult film companies that permits were required.

“If people are simply registering with the county and have no intent to follow the rules, we feel like that needs to be exposed,” Weinstein said.

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