Nevada may not be the condom-free Shangri-La some adult film companies were hoping for. Politicians and local health officials are now considering tougher laws for XXX productions, including a law making condom use mandatory on porn sets.

 

The changes are being considered because a male performer allegedly contracted HIV from bareback sex while shooting gay porn in the state. 

 

The state does have laws in place to ensure that sex workers in brothels are regularly tested for STIs. They must also use condoms during intercourse. The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services and the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration are considering extending the sex worker law to cover porn models as well.

 

Another possibility is the more aggressive enforcement of existing state and federal laws that require employers to protect workers from blood and “other potentially infectious material,” while providing “personal protective equipment” for safety.

 

Late last year, when the HIV scare was first reported, the Free Speech Coalition argued there was no active threat of infection to actors. The group said the porn shoot where the HIV infection may have taken place violated standard adult industry testing protocols and was not using a testing database.

 

Could this be the beginning of a very complex game of porn industry whack-a-mole? As porn companies seek jurisdictions where they can work condom-free, counties and cities and states may be forced to enact laws to protect workers and force condom use, thereby sending porn companies into new jurisdictions.

 

Nevada Health Officials Considering Stricter Porn Shoot Regulations [XBiz]