Los Angeles County Passes Controversial Measure Forcing Porn Stars to Wear Condoms
The measure formally known as "County of Los Angeles Safer Sex In The Adult Film Industry Act" has officially passed with 56 percent of voters casting their ballots in favor of mandating condom use in porn films.
The new law would force adult film producers to "comply with existing health and safety laws including condom use in the films they produce - and there will be no cost to taxpayers, as enforcement will be covered by permit fees paid by the producers," according to the measure's main proponent, AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein.
Los Angeles already requires adult film actors to wear condoms in shoots approved by the city; Measure B will expand that requirement beyond the city limits to surrounding areas, including the infamous Porn Valley where most of the country's porn industry is based.
It remains unclear how the law will be enforced, and opponents of the measure have argued that taxpayers would ultimately foot the bill for inspection. Additionally, No on Measure B activists claim the requirement is ultimately unnecessary given that adult performers are already undergoing extensive testing for STDs.
But recent HIV and syphilis scares challenge that argument, and a report published last week found that LA County adult film stars have "significantly higher" rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia than legal prostitutes in Nevada.
Industry officials have threatened to pack up and leave or go underground if Measure B passed, but some are now saying they will take the matter to the courts before deciding their next move.
[photo via AP]