Money Matters, Simplified.
Another porn performer tests HIV positive
by Jamie Anderson - June 13, 2009 - comments
Nation's health officials claim they are doubtful about safe-sex practices on adult film sets, notwithstanding reassurances from the industry
Los Angeles, June 13: The startling disclosure that another artist has tested positive for HIV immediately after shooting for an adult film has prompted the state health officials to look into the $12-billion-a-year U.S. adult film industry.
HIV test results of the actress, whose name was kept a secret, were reported by the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare (AIM) Foundation. The artist first tested positive on June 4, and subsequently on June 6. The results of the third and final confirmatory test are awaited, said Dr. Colin Hamblin, AIM's medical director.
The 22nd victim in the porn industry
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health revealed that ever since the 2004 occurrence, wherein a male star infected three other artists, 22 performers in the porn industry have tested positive.
The actress, who is the 22nd HIV positive performer, is said to have had sexual intercourse with two people. One of them is the porn actor with whom she performed in the first week of June itself. The other is her boyfriend.
These two men have, in turn, had sexual contact with six other people, all of whom have been notified and are undergoing tests. Till now, none of them has tested positive for HIV.
The onus of conducting tests for sexually transmitted diseases on performers in the San Fernando Valley, the headquarters of the porn industry, lies on the AIM. The foundation grants permission to work in the industry to those who pass these tests.
Stricter regulatory measures called for
Stressing the need for some urgent and stringent measures to be put in place, Michael Weinstein, president of the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said, “This industry screams for regulation. Cal-OSHA needs to require that condoms be used in any film."
The state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, after identifying the filmmaker, is likely to initiate a probe into the matter to thwart the swelling of such irresponsible practices on film sets that carry the threat of spreading infections.
"Our concern is that we need to quickly get to the employer so that we can work with them to change their practices to ensure the proper safety measures are being taken to prevent the additional spread of HIV," agency spokesman Dean Fryer said.