Measure requiring condoms in porn gains enough signatures for November ballot in Los Angeles County

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(CBS News) Porn actors in the city of Los Angeles have been required to wear condoms since March, following the passage of a controversial city ordinance. In November, voters will get decide if a similar measure should be applied to 85 other cities in L.A. County.

The Los Angeles Times reports that a petition for a measure backed by AIDS Healthcare Foundation that requires condoms for all pornography actors under the penalty of fines or criminal charges has gained 371,000 signatures in five months. To get a measure on the ballot, 232,000 signatures are required.

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Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, is thrilled the measure will be voted on this November during a presidential election, where voter turnout is expected to be high.

"This ordinance, modeled after the county's similar health permitting process for tattoo and massage parlors and bathhouses, should go a long way to improve safety on the sets for adult film performers," Weinstein said in a press release. "We are grateful that officials from the city of Los Angeles already acted earlier this year to adopt a similar citywide measure, and now we look forward to taking this measure directly to voters throughout the county of Los Angeles in November."

If voters approve the measure, adult film producers will need to pay a fee and get a permit from the county's Department of Public Health. County officials would then be able to suspend or revoke the permit for violations, and could also hit producers with fines or misdemeanor charges for not adhering to the rules, according to the Times. Of the 88 cities in Los Angeles County, Pasadena, Long Beach and Vernon would be excluded because they have their own public health departments.

In January, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed into a law a similar Los Angeles City Council ordinance requiring condoms on porn film sets. The council had previously voted 11-1 to pass the measure. The move prompted the porn industry to threaten to leave the city. About 90 percent of U.S. porn movies are filmed in Los Angeles, most in the city's San Fernando Valley suburb. The industry rakes in an estimated $8 billion each year; critics argued requiring condoms would cut into profits.

Weinstein and fellow advocates argue that porn actors face major risks when performing and need to be protected. In 2010, actor Derrick Burts tested positive for HIV, prompting the industry to temporarily shut down as actors were tested. In August of 2011, an adult film performer tested positive for HIV also causing the industry to halt production, but a retest was found to be negative.

"The people are ahead of the politicians on this issue," Weinstein told the Times. "There's never been something on the ballot as sexually explicit as this, so it's going to be excellent education for people."

A request for comment sent to the Free Speech Coalition, the trade association of the adult film industry, was not returned at press time.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says latex condoms, when used correctly and consistently, has been conclusively proven highly effective at preventing heterosexual transmission of HIV. However, the agency also adds, condoms cannot provide "absolute protection" against the disease.

[pbaird2]

One must ask the question as to how this law would be enforced; is there going to be a new position for staff to watch porn to ensure compliance? Will there be Health Dept inspectors onsite to ensure compliance? The industry appears to have self-regulated years ago and is evidenced by anyone who watches adult films; barebacking is as rare as snuff films. The entertainers reallized years ago they had to protect themselves and the industry reallized they had to protect their investments in those entertainers. Perhaps those in public leadership positions should consider how to improve the economy, increase jobs and decrease political abuses rather than involving themselves in such petty ordinances.

[matt6052]

They could just wear condoms with campaign logos on them. It's not as if the ballot initiative is going to change anything about Los Angeles. From Betty Paige and Marilyn Monroe on forward, the film industry has always been home to the porn industry.

[wheear]

This sick behavior filmed for "entertainment" should be banned. Everything goes in this Country. We need Jesus before God destroys us over this kind of stuff.

[Resin-Smoker]

Not that I'm an advocate for porn or anything but...

I love how the religious fanatics such as yourself try to cram their way of life down everyone else's throats.

Question: I guess you could modify the slogan of "Jesus saves" to "Jesus wears jimmy-hats so you should too".

[CBSName]

I'm really sorry you spend so much time fearing that "God will smite us". Jesus had a different view of God.

[Resin-Smoker]

So the three cities the law would not apply too can expect most if not all of the porn industry to re-locate there?

Seems like a very stupid law considering the amount of tax revenue the 83 other cities will be giving up and all because someone wants to "push" condom use.

Honestly there are more important things in the world to base a major political agenda around then this crap. In the end this will hurt businesses and property owners, due to a decline in local business and higher taxes rates to make up for the short fall of a departing industry.

[johnlockesghost]

I'm wondering why protecting porn performers is news. Anybody?

[tiredofeverything]

Stupid and unenforceable.
Also, porn actors get tested monthly for HIV, AIDS and other STD's
It's much more likely for the general public to catch something than it is for a porn performer.

[SoCal_Gridlock]

Just when you think you've heard it all. Can it possibly get any more ridiculous?

Yes, it can. Tomorrow I'm going to start a petition banning car chases in movies. And another one banning smoking. And others to ban all references to gangs, guns, drugs, tattoos, graffiti, loud motorcycles, soft drinks bigger than 16 ounces, domestic violence, bank robbery, muslims as the bad guys, suicide, and any movie starring Tom Hanks or directed by Michael Moore.

[realtimecoffee]

Wow Ain't. I agree with you more every day.