Porn Industry Worries About HIV Case
Officials Worry About Reckless Porn Sets

MICHAEL R. BLOOD, Associated Press Writer
POSTED: 1:47 am EDT June 14, 2009

LOS ANGELES -- California health officials are looking into the latest HIV case reported in California's multibillion-dollar porn industry, fearing that reckless practices on film sets might be raising the risk of new infections. It was revealed this week that a woman tested positive for HIV immediately after making an adult film. The state Division of Occupational Safety and Health was attempting to identify the filmmaker, at which point a formal investigation would begin.

"Our concern is that we need to quickly get to the employer so that we can work with them to change their practices to ensure the proper safety measures are being taken to prevent the additional spread of HIV," agency spokesman Dean Fryer said.

The actress' positive result was reported by the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation, which declined to reveal her name.

Known in the industry as AIM, the organization tests hundreds of actors each month in the San Fernando Valley, where the U.S. porn industry is headquartered. It grants those who pass certificates allowing them to work.

Los Angeles County health officials say there have been 22 confirmed HIV cases in industry performers since 2004.

Although the co-stars of the woman involved in the latest case have tested negative, they have been quarantined from acting for the time being and advised to be retested in two weeks because, medical experts say, it takes almost that long for a person to show signs of infection.

"All required reporting has been complied with," the foundation said in a statement Thursday on its Web site. "This is not a major event."

Fryer said the foundation has not cooperated with state investigators in previous cases, citing privacy laws. Foundation officials did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Friday.

Government health officials say they are dubious about safe-sex practices on adult film sets, despite assurances from the industry. Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health, said there are "persistent reports" about risky behavior.

Regulations require filmmakers to provide protection against the transmission of disease, such as condoms or using film techniques that involve simulations.

"There is no reason these infections should be occurring if these employers are following these precautions," Fryer said.

After an HIV outbreak in 2004 spread panic through the industry and briefly shut down production at several studios, many producers began making condoms a requirement. But they said both actors and audiences quickly rebelled.

"What happened was the talent didn't want to use condoms," said Steven Hirsch, co-Chief Executive of Vivid Entertainment Group, one of the industry's largest filmmakers. "As a result, we decided to go condom optional."

Associated Press writer John Rogers contributed to this report.

How can this adult movie star know when she caught HIV/Aids???
Maybe this startlet had the virus already and only now tested positive.

Duh!

hey it did state condom optional.

Maybe the whole industry should be quarantined for 6 months until adequate testing is done on all!

But like you can really tell someone not to have sex, even if they aren't getting paid for it!

All jokes aside, HIV is a virus which I thought can remain dormant in someone for some time - once it progresses it turns to blown out AIDS.

How in the world can someone with 1/4 of a brain put themselves at risk like that, not only themselves but others as well????

it is easier for people to put on masks after a swine flu outbreak than for them to protect themselves against HIV by wearing condoms. which is easier?

there are production companies that require routine HIV testing...i know from a documentary...not personal experience

Routine testing will only confirm having the disease/virus. Precautions should be taken beforehand, but wait this would make sense, can't have that.

I saw it on the Bunny Ranch series

some (again acoording to the documentary, not personal experience lol) require condoms

i saw it on porn in america or something

Guess I am being bad because HIV/Aids really is nothing to laugh at.

Hard to imagine just how many people are open and truthful about their past sexual history?

If 'you' were infected, would you want to know?

The new tests that they have for HIV can show infection within 3 months for sure and possibly sooner.

The sex industry is risky because a person may show they are not infected with HIV during that 3 month window. If a person shows a negative test they are probably letting them work and not requiring another test three months after their initial one.

In the sex industry they should probably require these tests ever three months to keep infection lower but I cannot see how they can prevent it completely unless condoms are used and then a condom can break so that would still not be 100%

i'd want to know who and how since i'm not doing anything lol

ok...kidding aside. i did see where they keep updated lists in the porn industry and what the status is on the test. positive, negative, full blown AIDS, etc

my dumb question was why was this starlet not tested prior to filming instead of after filming?

What studio???

i figured you would know that..i'm not THAT up on my latest porn news

Not a dumb question at all. I would have thought it would be a prerequisite because of the nature of the job.

I know condoms are a pain in butt. They do not feel the greatest but I am not having sex like a porn star (dammit lol) and I require them until we can have a mutual test done and wait the required time for another test.

how many people are out here without any knowledge that they are transmitting the disease/virus?

it can remain dormant for a long time before ever testing positive.

Most say they believe that the industry's testing guidelines are enough to keep performers safe despite the news that an adult film actress has tested positive for HIV.
By Kimi Yoshino and Rong-Gong Lin II
June 13, 2009
Porn actresses paraded in stiletto heels, wearing itsy-bitsy skirts and bikini tops that overflowed. Guys eagerly snapped pictures and collected autographs. As Erotica LA got underway Friday at the Los Angeles Convention Center, it was business as usual.

Adult film stars and producers who gathered for the three-day expo said they continue to believe the porn industry's testing guidelines are enough to keep performers safe despite this week's news that an adult film actress had tested positive for HIV.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-porn-hiv13-2009jun13,0,4356396.story

thats my point none of this makes logical sense... whats the sense of testing me for drugs after giving me medication??? test me before you medicate me??? have a basis to go on...

hmmm condoms hmmm pain in the butt

sorry mind just normally wanders and falls right into the gutter...

Sex what's that????? --- see now that's sad

not sure but maybe I am just too dayummm simple

if anyone/someone tested positive then the testing guidelines should be updated, freshed or upgraded...