Two US porn giants, filmmakers Vivid Entertainment and Califa Productions, are suing Los Angeles County over the new law requiring adult movie actors to wear condoms on set. According to porn industry insiders, the new measure is unconstitutional.
“Overturning this law is something I feel very passionate about,” founder of LA-based Vivid Entertainment, Steven Hirsch, told AFP. “I believe the industry’s current testing system works well.”
Hirsch’s company, Califa Productions as well as actors Kayden Kross and Logan Pierce reportedly claim the porn film industry already regulates itself well enough to protect actors against AIDS/HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
US porn industry insiders argue that the so-called Measure B, approved and voted into force in early November, violates the First Amendment right to free expression.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation welcomed the law, which was backed by 55.9 per cent of Los Angeles County voters.
Since 2004 over 300,000 explicit scenes have been filmed with no transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus, according to AFP.
America’s multi-million dollar adult film industry is largely based in Los Angeles and fears fewer viewers would want to see porn films with actors using condoms.
“Measure B will have vast unintended consequences which may undermine industry efforts to protect the health of our actors and actresses,” Hirsch said, warning the new law could result in driving production abroad where there is no protection.
Last year, leading porn producers had to stop filming for nearly a week after a performer tested positive for HIV. The Free Speech Coalition said, however, the case was later determined to have been a false report.
In 2010, porn actor Derrick Burts was confirmed as HIV-positive, which also halted production, and in 2004 at least five performers tested positive prompting another moratorium.
