May 5, 2006 | Sex & Society

CocoDorm accused of spreading HIV

CocoDorm isn't your average frat house. It's the location of an Internet sex show featuring young men of color getting down and dirty on camera -- irresponsibly, if you ask the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), which has accused owner FlavaWorks of allowing the spread of HIV both within the house and outside it.

FlavaWorks specializes in the use of black and Hispanic models on its website and in its videos and magazines, some of which feature bareback sex, according to the Chicago Free Press, which broke the story last week.

The local free paper quotes Christopher Brown, assistant commissioner for HIV/AIDS/STD programs at CDPH as saying that his department responded to "credible" evidence suggesting that models at FlavaWorks -- particularly those in the CocoDorm -- were HIV-positive and were engaging in unsafe sex acts that resulted in the spread of HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea outside the business. CDPH reacted to the evidence with a cease and desist order against FlavaWorks.

In a press release issued Monday, Bejata reports, FlavaWorks denied all allegations against it, stating that its models are treated well and are required to wear condoms during intercourse. Perhaps they just forgot about the "Dorm Life" and  "Raw Thugs" videos they sell at their own CocoStore?

• Porn, HIV and the lives of young gay men of color [Bejata]
• Cocodorm responds [Bejata]
• CocoDorm busted [Fleshbot]