May 4, 2011 | The Biz

AIM clinic closes in California

AIM Medical Associates, established to care for the physical and emotional needs of sex workers, was one of the main clinics to provide support and STD testing for XXX performers and producers in California. Sadly, AIM closed its doors for good yesterday.

“It is our understanding that AIM is now closed. Our hearts go out to AIM and its dedicated staff. We know that it has been a very difficult time for them,” Free Speech Coalition Executive Director Diane Duke said. “Rest assured that FSC is committed to making sure that the industry and its performers are well-protected.”

FSC cited ongoing disputes between AIM and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, an organization fighting for mandatory condom use in the adult industry, as the reason behind the closure.

The conflict between AIM and AHF has been going on for two years now. AHF has even taken AIM to court over patient medical privacy. In the suit, AHF claimed that AIM made private records public to production companies without the performers' consent, and that AIM actively discouraged the use of condoms by performers. 

AIM was used by production companies to provide up-to-date test results for sexually transmitted diseases. Companies who produce straight sex videos, where condom use is limited, have used this testing method to limit performers' exposure to STDs like HIV; producers have argued this process has been effective and therefore condoms are not required. As far as we know, AIM never actively discouraged the use of condoms by sex workers, and it did not take a public stand one way or the other against condomless porn scenes.  

The FSC has planned an emergency meeting this week to find a replacement testing facilty.

AIM Clinic Closes; FSC Responds [XBiz]