Industry officials call for a moratorium on filming as a porn star HIV test results showed positive.
Free Speech Coalition, a non-profit association of the adult entertainment industry based in the U.S., confirmed that one of their members is indeed positive with HIV. However, they refused to disclose the identity the porn star and the name of the facility where the test was conducted.
The association is now focused on reaching out those who had worked with the actor to have them subjected for immediate testing. Those who will also test positive will be treated accordingly. Meanwhile, the porn star will undergo further testing as well.
"Because of the rigorous APHSS protocols, the situation was accessed quickly and — most importantly — action was taken to ensure the protocols were followed,” coalition Chief Executive Diane Duke said to the L.A Times.
The industry officials said that is very unlikely that the infection was acquired on-set.
The HIV incident will surely fuel more fire on the ongoing debate regarding the safety of the performers in the adult film industry. Last year, the Los Angeles city officials started requiring porn stars to wear condoms on set which was later on expanded countywide.
The voters passed the Los Angeles County Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act, or Measure B, in November last year. The porn industry was not happy about the decision and decided to sue the county in January. Vivid Entertainment, Califa Productions and porn performers Kayden Kross and Logan Pierce filed a lawsuit calling to revoke the provision because of its non-constitutional basis.
The association appealed to have the provision revoked but failed over a judge ruling on Friday imposing the validity of the performers wearing condoms on set. It was the AIDS Healthcare Foundation which represented the county officials in the arraignment.
