August 22, 2009 | The Biz

Unsafe working conditions for porn workers

Sixteen adult production companies are being accused of unsafe sex practices by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). AHF plans to file a complaint with the Cal/OSHA (California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health).

AHF explained, "In any other context, being paid for sex is a crime. The California Supreme Court is the only state supreme court that has held that in the context of making adult films, paying someone for sex is not a crime. The California state government gives an extraordinary level of protection to the producers of adult films. What we're asking is that the California state government take similar steps to protect performers in adult films."

During a press conference on the accusations, one reporter asked if the government really should be involved: "Twenty-five years after the explosion of AIDS in America, we're still dealing with this issue. Public awareness about practices of safe sex is well documented. What's the role of personal responsibility? Why don't actors simply say, 'I'm not going to do this, no amount of money is worth risking my life for'? Why don't you mobilize the actors and actresses, since they're the people on the front lines? Why are you bringing in the industry when it seems to be more about personal responsibility?"

Weinstein explained, "We put a special burden on people who make a profit from an activity. If you make a profit from banking, you're not supposed to abuse that privilege by usurious practices. We say that if you're running a factory manufacturing goods, you aren't supposed to abuse that privilege by harming the workers."

AIDS Healthcare Announces Cal/OSHA Complaint [XBiz]