HIV in Porn Industry Is Like “Russian Roulette”: 4th Performer Tests Positive

Citing confidentiality concerns, that actor was identified only as male

Performing in adult films is as risky as a game of "Russian roulette," the president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation said after another adult film actor came forward as HIV positive.

The announcement by the actor to the organization was the fourth reported case in the industry in the last two months.

Citing confidentiality concerns, that actor was identified by AHF President Michael Weinstein only as male, and it was unclear whether the performer had been infected while filming.

Weinstein said the recent HIV "outbreak" reinforces why a voter-approved law in Los Angeles County requiring adult-film actors to wear condoms during on-screen vaginal or anal intercourse should be mandated statewide.

"If you have unprotected sex, essentially you're going to get something, whether it's HIV or chlamydia or gonorrhea, simply by the law of odds," Weinstein said. "This current system is not going to protect you. I think that's become very obvious by what's been going on in the last number of weeks."

"We underestimate psychological consequences of this happening to a very young person," he added.

Canoga Park-based Free Speech Coalition, an adult film industry group, has twice called on a moratorium on porn production since the first HIV case was reported in August. An actress known as Cameron Bay tested positive, followed by a male actor who she was in an off-screen relationship with.

An unidentified third performer was announced later.

The requirement of condoms on set was challenged by the adult film industry, but was upheld last month by a federal judge who ruled the health risks of not using condoms trumped porn producers' argument that it violated First Amendment rights.

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