March 19, 2010 | The Biz

California studies mandatory condom use in porn

A six-member California Division of Occupational Safety and Health standards board yesterday struck an advisory committee to study the mandatory use of condoms during porn shoots.  

“The question is the particular acts and exposures to the workers and what are we doing to prevent that,” said board member Jonathan Frisch. "I found it extremely interesting to hear from members of the industry here this morning. It’s going to be very, very important that we do have them at the table.”

“We believe the state of California has a responsibility to regulate these workplaces as they do every other workplace,” AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein told the board. The AHF had petitioned the state to look into the issue.

“You think you’re safe but you’re not; in between scenes, you don’t know what other actors are doing,” former porn actor Darren James told the board. He tested HIV-positive in 2004. “I’m living your nightmare every day,” he said. “You don’t want to live what I’m going through now.”

Should new regulations be introduced, it will be interesting to see how many companies comply and how many pick up and move out of state. Hopefully the well-being of the actors will be priority number one.

State regulators agree to explore requiring porn industry performers to use condoms ...  [LA Times]