By Jill Sergeant
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The lucrative Los Angeles porn film industry was reeling on Friday by news that two production companies had been slapped with the first fines for allowing actors to perform without condoms.

California's state health and safety board fined Evasive Angles and TTB Productions $30,560 each for making porn movies which it said exposed three actors to HIV infections.

It was the first time that the California Division of Occupational Health and Safety (Cal/OSHA) had taken regulatory action against the multibillion dollar adult film industry in Los Angeles, which employs some 6,000 people in 200 production companies turning out dozens of films and videos a week.

"This is a huge departure. This is really like dropping a bomb," said Sharon Mitchell, director of the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation (AIM) which runs a voluntary HIV-screening program for the industry.

"I think the industry will contest this. These companies will be a test case," Mitchell said.

Evasive Angles and TTB Productions could not be reached for comment.

The fines followed an HIV outbreak last April involving five actors who tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS. The nervous industry shut down voluntarily for a month while about 50 actors who had worked with those infected awaited test HIV test results.

Porn film producers have resisted compulsory condom rules saying they take the sizzle out of sex scenes and consumers do not want to watch safe sex. But Cal/OSHA said porn actors had the same legal right to a safe workplace as employees in more conventional businesses. Officials said action against other adult film companies could follow.

Business in what is dubbed "Porn Valley," in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, has flourished over the past decade fueled by the Internet and home computers.

Mitchell said that while supporting testing and voluntary programs to protect sex workers, she was concerned that heavy-handed regulation would push the industry underground.

Porn actor Tony Tedeschi, who has worked in the industry for 15 years, commended OSHA's intervention although he said he did not insist on using condoms. "If I did, I wouldn't be able to work," Tedeschi told the Los Angeles Times.

© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.
source: http://www.reuters.com/ne...ID=6269944

I don't understand why anyone would be against using condoms in the industry.

TheOrgerFormerlyKnownAs said:

I don't know why anyone would want to WORK in this industry without using condoms. I understand the actors go through routine testing, etc, but still! Scary!

uh oh

TheOrgerFormerlyKnownAs said:

Because it really is something people would rather not see and these companies simply want to make a lot of money. Like in any other business they want to give the consumer what they want as long as it's profitable. If folks would say "condoms are fuckin' hot" they'd have all their actors slap on a rubber tomorrow.

Porn stars hop from video company to video company. They agree to do these scenes condomless, they are not being forced to. Perhaps the production companies should (if they aren't doing this already) force them to sign a waiver.

Thats like a stuntman suing for getting hurt on the job

Tom said:

The bigger names in porn (m&f) sign exclusive contracts with just one company though.

I think the problem is that if we assume that condoms are bad for business cause it's not what the consumer wants, then I can imagine companies would rather have actors who work without.

personally, i NEVER watch porn

nakedpianoplayer said:

Riiiiight!!!

nakedpianoplayer said:

ya hawns are showin morris

nakedpianoplayer said:

_DAMN !!!!!_ not one of you freaks believe me huh ?????

Recently- while doing routine tests- 4 porn performers tested positive. Now... who knows how many people they have filmed with before they found out they had HIV???

Many MEN in the porn industry have BLUNTLY said- If I say I must wear a condom, I won't work. In the "industry's" eyes people don't want to buy SAFE sex, they want what they can't have.... valid point.

But OSHA rules that any place of business where people come into contact with bodily fluid (of any kind) protective gear MUST be worn at all times. Goggles- Latex, Gloves, Mouth guards... etc.... now, do I want to watch porn with people in bunny suits doing it? no. But I do respect that OSHA is trying to make it more acceptable in the porn industry to wear a condom for your own safety!

I have 3 friends who are in porn- scary, I know... but when this whole thing has started, it surprised me when they fought to keep it natural!!!!! Can you believe it?

OSHA said it's toughest thing would be to oversee that people are actually following the rules- back door porn and what not- it is a loosing battle-
We NEED to start better education about HIV and continue to raise money to find a cure and fight it!!!!!

Sorry- said my piece.... hits too close to home!

nakedpianoplayer said:

hell no... U talk bout ur toys and U want me to belive U don't watch porn

kdowney said: