Activists Announce County Initiative to Require Condoms in Adult Films

The ballot initiative is similar to one already on the city of Los Angele's ballot

An AIDS advocacy group announced Wednesday its intention to put an initiative on the ballot that would require adult film performers in Los Angeles County to use condoms.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein announced the initiative—which is similar to one the group already put on the city of Los Angele's ballot-- at a press conference in the San Fernando Valley.

"Today we launch yet another campaign to bring about safety in the adult film industry," Weinstein said. "The adult film industry has said over and over again that if they're regulated, they're going to run away. So we have followed them to Florida and filed complaints there on two occasions. And now we're cutting off the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles for them to run away too as well."

California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, who is assisting AIDS Healthcare Foundation's efforts, already requires condom use in adult films however the agency can only act after it receives a complaint.

Under the county initiative, producers would be forced to follow the regulations in order to get a film permit.

AIDS Healthcare collected over 71,00 signatures to put the initiative on the ballot in the city of Los Angeles. The measure is still facing a legal challenge by City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, who filed suit earlier this month to keep it off the ballot.

The suit says the measure is unnecessary and a waste of taxpayer money and that there are already state laws mandating use of condoms when workers are exposed to blood borne pathogens.

County officials say it would be too difficult to monitor the porn industry through the health department and that it is a matter for the State Legislature.

Proponents of the county initiative must gather 200,000 signatures for it to make the November 2012 ballot.
 

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