HIV-Positive Porn Actor Scares Industry: 22 Since Cases 2004

LOS ANGELES — State 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 is 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's 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."

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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."

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Associated Press writer John Rogers contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation: http://www.aim-med.org

Comments

[indievoter76]

WHo are these actors?

[empress of green]

messing with them outside hoes...

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

22 people in 5 years. I wonder if this is a higher percentage than in their general sexually active non porn star peers. It really seems to be a standard statistic for twenty somethings. The average person isn't tested so often, so propbably poses a greater risk to the population. condoms are the key for all people.

[sunnybunny]

I know 22 in 5 years doesn't seem too bad considering.

[voltage356]

I would like to see Steven Hirsch get out there and perform porn with multiple partners without a condom, and see if he believes in condom optional.

[voltage356]

What so shocking about this, these people know the risk involved. It's the money thrown in their faces to perform is what drives them. I take it they feel as if they're all immune to the risk of getting HIV.

[goddess1871]

The problem is a lot of these "actors" and "actresses" didn't grow up remembering when HIV was an automatic death sentence. A lot of people don't anymore. We have NOT eradicated AIDS, and while medical technology has saved a lot of lives, this is still, at best, a chronic illness.

[Neophile]

Nah, I'm sure most people in the profession recognize the risks. People risk their lives for money in many different professions. Some do it for the money and some do it because they like the job. Porn is no different.

[yemaya]

Those in the porn industry are people too. What is depravity for you is probably good sex to most.

[blondecuban]

There is no such thing as "safe sex" in the porn industry. I know. I have done freelance legal work for a porn company. I had occasion to view hundreds of hours of the stuff (God, what boring work). Anyway, even when they wear condoms it's not safe. Why? Because there's oral sex, which is always without protection. And there are 2 on 1 scenes where there are 2 women. The guy never changes the condom from one woman to the next. It's just impossible.

My concern isn't that the porn stars infecting each other. It's a choice they've made to live that life and they know the risks. My concern is all the non-adult industry people all those porn stars are having sex with, who then go out and infect other non-porn industry people.

Frankly, I believe that the whole industry should be done away with. I've viewed enough of the stuff to know that most of it is not protected by the 1st amendment because it is obscenity as defined by the Supreme Court.

[DSOTM]

The worst thing about this is more young kids see all this unprotected sex online and think they won't get pregnant or get sick if they do it too.

About 10 years ago an affluent suburb in Atlanta had a major syphellus outbreak amongst high school kids, apparently nothing has been learned since HIV.

[gayleg]

I remember that. The kids were going to empty houses after school and imitating porn.

Way to raise your kids, people!

[TimDanMick]

Who knew?

[chaz]

Who cares? These people are adults.

The real story to be concerned with is how " Oral sex is now considered a good night kiss among young Americans".

I don't think divorce, layoffs, economic instability, m tv, music lyrics (little wayne for example) have any thing to do with the dramatic increase in the exploitation of young girls and woman in America today.

CAp media ownership and fire morning joe.

[thewhitewitch]

How is porn legal & regulated, but prostitution is not? Something's fishy....

[TimDanMick]

Yes, if you are being paid to have sex how does a camera make it legal.
Also, if you pay a hooker for a non penetrative act you can be arrested, but, if a mainstream director asks Jennifer ##### to do the same thing it's OK

[sweetladygenevieve]

The illegality of prostitution protects (at least to some degree) the general population.

A mattress actress, for example, contaminates those in the subculture of her industry, whereas a prostitute passes on her STDs to men and women who in turn spread it to their unsuspecting partners.

[Maximus54]

If they don't care about their health then why should we? What they do is disgusting, immoral and very risky and they know that so if they don't care, then who are we to care. Let them do porn and once in a while they may die from it, so what everybody takes risks in life.

[KMan1]

First, it is only natural for some people to care about others, even when they don't seem to care about themselves. Second, it isn't just the people involved in the business that are at risk but everyone they come in contact with.

[yellowdoggie]

A bunch of people having sex with multiple partners, many of whom they don't know? Condoms optional?

What could possibly go wrong?

[raker]

Nineteen eighty-four called. They want their news item back.

[blaharumph]

exactly... they didn't see it as a possibility?

[Dustin Weida]

swing and a miss i think