California to hold a public ballot on bareback porn ban
California will put an initiative to voters – asking whether the filming of bareback porn should be banned in the state.
A ballot was confirmed to be taking place next year on the initiative, submitted by Michael Weinstein of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
If passed, the initiative would make the wearing of condoms mandatory in all pornographic scenes filmed in the state, for both gay and straight scenes.
Similar plans have been strongly opposed by the adult entertainment industry in the past – with some arguing risks are minimal now regular vetting and testing for actors is in place.
No incident of an actor being infected with HIV on a porn set has been reported since 2004.
However, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation continues to claim that the practise of allowing porn actors to have unprotected sex is unsafe, and that porn studios are setting a bad example on condom use.
Weinstein told the LA Times of the new initiative: “It’s another milestone – the qualification of this initiative.
“We’ve taken polls that show, statewide, 71% support. We’re very confident that we will be successful on election day. There is no area of employment where safety is optional.”
The group’s views are often controversial – previously attacking the use of HIV-preventing drug Truvada. Despite endorsements for the drug from the FDA and World Health Organization, AHF President Michael Weinstein labelled it a “party drug”.
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LA County, which has traditionally been a haven for porn studios, passed an ordinance in November 2012 banning the filming of bareback sex.
It was subsequently revealed that applications for permits to shoot pornography in Los Angeles had fallen by 90% since the law came into effect.
Despite the huge fall in official shoots, it is likely that the regulation simply forced studios underground, pushing actors out of official screening processes and safety nets.
The California Senate shelved a similar law last year, after strong opposition from the adult entertainment industry.
