AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF):
As part of its ongoing campaign to require the use of condoms in porn films shot and produced in California in an effort to reduce the spread of STDs including HIV, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will host a press conference tomorrow, Thursday, August 20th at 10:30 AM Pacific to announce its filing of ‘Notice of Safety or Health Hazards’ complaints with Cal/OSHA (California’s Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health), the state’s health and safety regulatory and watchdog organization, over the industry’s blacklist on the use of condoms in porn. AHF will support its complaints with the submission of nearly 60 adult DVDs filmed in California and in which the performers do not wear condoms. AHF’s Cal/OSHA complaints will assert that the films demonstrate unsafe—potentially life-threatening—behavior in a California workplace, as the sexual acts filmed without participating performers using condoms depict the unprotected exchange of bodily fluids.
“As a global HIV and STD medical provider operating treatment clinics and prevention facilities here in California, we see it as our duty to pursue action on the issue of safety in the workplace—in these instances, unprotected sex acts taking place in albeit non-traditional workplaces—porn sets located throughout the San Fernando Valley that are churning out billions of dollars of adult fare every day,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “This is why we are filing workplace health and safety complaints with Cal/OSHA today: to press for the enforcement of state and local workplace regulatory guidelines which would require the use of condoms in all adult films produced in California.”
AHF is hosting its press conference—which will feature prominent display of the aforementioned adult DVDs—in conjunction with the Pink Cross Foundation and its founder, Shelley Lubben, as well as several other former porn actresses from the adult entertainment industry. The performers will announce that they are joining AHF’s call for condom use in the production of all adult films in California as well as the filing of the Cal/OSHA complaints.
“We are also honored to be joined today by several former actresses in the porn industry as we continue our push to require the use of condoms in all adult films shot in California,” added AHF’s Weinstein. “As they share parts of their stories today, each will put a compelling human face on the underbelly of the industry. For decades, the San Fernando Valley has been, and continues to be, the epicenter of the industry. Over the past several months, AHF has been spearheading a multi-pronged campaign pressing for condom use in adult films, and we are grateful that these courageous women are lending their voices and speaking out in this cause and in support of our complaints.”
“I was a porn star living the glamorous life. Drug overdoses, herpes, suicide attempts and abuse at the hands of the porn industry,” said Shelley Lubben, former porn actress and founder of the Pink Cross Foundation, an IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to offering adult industry workers emotional, financial and transitional support for those who want out of the adult industry. “In my time in the industry, I did some very hardcore movies, and only drugs and alcohol could get me through them. I played a crazy game of Russian roulette with my life. The industry did not and still does NOT enforce condom usage, so STDs and HIV were and still are a high risk among porn actors and actresses. While my own life has taken an entirely new and profoundly fulfilling direction and I now work to help performers leave the industry altogether, I wholeheartedly support AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s call to require condom use in the ongoing production of adult films in California.”
“It breaks my heart to acknowledge that during my time as a porn star, I’ve done a scene with 25 men and even though I was assured that all of the STD testing had been taken care of by the producers, in my heart I realize now that this was probably a lie because I never saw the tests for myself,” said Jan (Meza) Merritt, former porn actress and member of the Pink Cross Foundation. “There are thousands of porn stars actively working in the adult industry. Can AIM say in all honesty that they are able to accurately test and regulate all of these performers’ health? I think not. How is AIM certain that their tests are foolproof when nothing in this life is guaranteed, not even the use of condoms, contraceptives and other prophylactics? And how much higher is the risk of getting HIV and other STDs in an industry where you have not only one sexual partner per day, but several or more and condoms are looked at as an unnecessary, negative component of this industry? Enough is enough! How many more HIV incidents will occur in the adult industry before changes are made once and for all? 22 reported cases of HIV. How can anyone say that’s a small number? We are talking about human lives! How can you put a price on life?”
“While working in the industry, I performed in over one-hundred triple-X hardcore movies. Some of my experiences on the porn set include me being totally wasted and porn producers allowing me to be—and even providing—alcohol and drugs for me. I experienced rough sex scenes and have been hit by male talent and told them to stop, but they wouldn’t stop until I started to cry and ruined the scene,” said Michelle Avanti, a former adult entertainment actress and member of the Pink Cross Foundation in a statement. “As I continued to do hardcore porn, I started catching STDs all the time. My lower body hurt so badly and at times my private area felt like it was a blazing fire. I could no longer work because I caught so many STDs and infections. I believe that if condoms had been allowed to be used in my own films, I would not have suffered so many physical ailments and infections. I am pleased today to lend my support to AHF’s call to require condom use in adult films produced in California.”
At the conclusion of the press conference AHF officials will depart in a caravan from the hotel to deliver the complaints and the supporting DVDs to the body informally known as Cal/OSHA: California’s Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health, 320 West 4th Street, Suite 850, Los Angeles CA 90013.
Background DVD Materials for AHF’s Complaint to Cal/OSHA
In support of its complaint to Cal/OSHA asserting that film sets where condoms are not used provide unsafe California work environments, AIDS Healthcare Foundation officials undertook a review and analysis of nearly 60 adult films produced and/or distributed by the industry. AHF will submit the DVDs to Cal/OSHA in support of its workplace safety complaint regarding these California film sets. Among AHF’s findings:
- 58 adult entertainment (porn) DVDs purchased;
- 16 production and/or distribution companies represented;
- 15 DVDs depict double penetration (two penises) WITHOUT a condom; one portrays unprotected double penetration in one orifice (anal, a particularly high risk behavior for possible tearing of the membrane and lining of the anus);
- 7 DVDs featuring Spanish language and Latino/Latina performers; in one of these DVDs, CONDOMS ARE USED
- 5 DVDs (primarily) featuring African Americans; in one of these DVDs, CONDOMS ARE USED
- 2 DVDs featuring Asian women
- 3 gay and/or bisexual BAREBACK (no condom) DVDs
Following is a list of the production and distribution companies represented in AHF’s industry analysis:
History of AHF’s Advocacy for Condom Use in Porn Films in California