HIV scare rocks porn industry, sex practices under fire

June 15, 11:29 AMSF Health News ExaminerJefferson Adams

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The adult film industry faces its most widespread porn outbreak in five
years as Los Angeles County health officials have revealed 16 previously
undisclosed cases of HIV among porn actors, bringing the total number
of porn-related HIV cases to 22 in the last five years. Now, concerned
state health officials asking whether sex practices at adult entertainment
studios are putting adult performers at risk. Photo: CreativeCommons:
macrophile

Recent revelations by Los Angeles County health officials of 16 previously undisclosed cases of HIV among porn actors brings the total number of porn-related HIV cases to 22 in the last five years, and has concerned state health officials asking whether sex practices at adult entertainment studios are putting adult performers at risk.

Officials with the State Division of Occupational Safety and Health are seeking to locate the filmmaker so they can begin a formal investigation. "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.

The disclosure of previously unrevealed HIV cases has some asking if HIV could force porn studios to adopt the very safe-sex practices they made optional after the last HIV scare hit the industry in 2004. Many worry such a move could threaten the vitality of an industry that has earned a reputation for being 'recession proof.' Others are questioning sex practices they claim may be contributing to unsafe working conditions in the adult film industry.

The news of the undisclosed outbreaks comes after assurances by the porn industry that a single positive test by a female adult film performer was the first since 2004, when cases of three adult film actresses and a single male star, along with the unrelated case of a transsexual performer, shut down porn production for a month. The incident drew intense scrutiny to safety practices in the adult entertainment industry. However, the industry rejected calls for a blanket safe sex practice in films and opted instead for a condom optional approach.

Regarding the individual female performer who tested positive recently, initial HIV tests of the woman's partners came up negative. Sharon Mitchell, founder of the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation (AIM), a nonprofit corporation that handles HIV and STD testing and treatment for people who work in the porn industry, said this case was different because the woman had "exceptionally few partners, inside and outside the industry."

Mark Kernes, senior editor of AVN, confirmed that the actress was an older woman who worked rarely. All partners are currently testing negative and in adult employment quarantine. All required reporting has been complied with, as have the AIM and industry protocols. The investigation is ongoing. This is not a major event," Mitchell said, according to AVN. Initial HIV tests of the woman's partners were negative, and Mitchell said the actors are not working and are being encouraged to test again in two weeks.

The newly LA County data raises the number of known porn-related HIV cases to 22 since 2004, including a female performer who tested positive last week. At least 10 of the 22 cases involved men who had sex with other men, noted the officials.

That means a total 16 men and 5 women who worked as porn performers became infected with HIV between 2004 and 2008, according to Los Angeles County Department of Public Health data. From 1998 to 2003, there were 14 confirmed HIV cases among porn industry performers, according to the health department.

All working adult film actors are required to be tested for HIV every 30 days, according to Kernes. The time between tests for other sexually transmitted diseases is longer. Kernes said that here are about 1,000 people actively working in the industry in any six month period.