The LA City Council today approved a motion to create an ordinance that would require adult productions to show proof of condom use, in order to be issued a film permit.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s (AHF) recently gathered enough petition signatures to put mandatory condom regulation through film permits on the ballot for the Los Angeles City election to be held in June. AHF’s President Michael Weinstein also has stated that the HIV nonprofit organization would push to have the condom initiative placed on countywide ballots for the November election.
AHF’s relentless attacks on the adult industry have been orchestrated to portray rates of adult performer STIs as a “public health threat” and Weinstein’s grandstanding on the issues uses emotionally-charged tactics by calling the situation an “epidemic” and by quoting statistics that have proven to be inaccurate.
FSC has led the opposition to AHF’s needless, self-serving anti-adult agenda and also has made every effort to cooperate with state health & safety regulatory agency Cal/OSHA.
“Performer health and safety is a priority for the adult film industry, which is why the industry’s standards and self regulations have been successful as represented by the industry’s low rate of STI transmission and no transmission of HIV in the industry in more than 5 years!” FSC Executive Director Diane Duke stated in response to today’s developments.
“Government regulation of film-making would likely undermine existing health and safety efforts and industry standards that are effective as well as take the government into dangerous new territory.
“This approach betrays our Constitution; it betrays the hard lessons we’ve learned in the 25-year fight against HIV/AIDS; and it betrays aggressive health and safety efforts in place that are proven and effective,” Duke added.
Speculation on actions taken by the City Council today suggests that the council may be taking preemptive steps to prevent the ballot initiative from reaching voters, in order to prevent cost to taxpayers from the election and – if the initiative was passed – any litigation that might follow.
The LA City Attorney had already filed suit to stop the ballot initiative from being considered for the election, citing that if the initiative were passed by voters, it would likely later be brought to court – and lose – on Constitutional grounds.
Two City Council members, Bill Rosendahl and Paul Koretz, have received generous donations from AHF’s Weinstein. Both men spearheaded the effort to quash the City Attorney’s lawsuit.
AHF has stated that they will protest tonight at the XBIZ Awards, to be held at Santa Monica Airport’s Barker Hanger, where Hustler founder Larry Flynt will be honored with the Icon Award, and where FSC’s Duke also will receive the Woman of the Year Award.
(Photo: Courtesy of NASA)
