STDs in the porn industry

STDs in the porn industry deals with the outbreak of cases of transmission in the sex industry of sexually transmitted infections (STIs/STDs), especially HIV/AIDS, which became a major cause of concern since the 1980s, especially for pornographic film actors. There have been twenty-two reported HIV cases in the industry; roughly half were among men who work in gay films, while the rest were both men and women working in heterosexual productions.[1]

Types of diseases

Some types of STDs reported in the porn industry include: chlamydia, gonorrhea,[2] syphilis,[3] and HIV/AIDS.

Because pornographic film making involves unsimulated sex, usually without condoms (barebacking), pornographic actors are particularly vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases. In a paper written by the LA Board of Public Health, officials claimed that among 825 performers screened in 2000–2001, 7.7% of females and 5.5% of males had chlamydia, and 2% overall had gonorrhea. These rates are much higher than in patients visiting family planning clinics, where chlamydia and gonorrhea rates were 4.0% and 0.7%, respectively. Between January 2003 and March 2005, approximately 976 performers were reported with 1,153 positive STD test results. Of the 1,153 positive test results, 722 (62.6%) were chlamydia, 355 (30.8%) were gonorrhea, and 126 (10.9%) were coinfections with chlamydia and gonorrhea. Less is known about the prevalence and risk of transmission of other STDs such as syphilis, herpes simplex virus, human papillomavirus, hepatitis B or C, trichomonal infection, or diseases transmitted through the fecal–oral route.[4] The data collection of LA public health was criticized by pornographic industry sources on the grounds that most of those testing positive had never made a pornographic film, and were in fact being excluded from pornographic film acting until they had treated their STDs. Non-treatable STDs like HSV represent a difficult case: according to actress Chloe, "After you've been in this business for a while, you have herpes. Everyone has herpes."[5]

HIV cases

1980s and 1990s

Brooke Ashley became HIV positive in 1998 but returned to pornography in 2005 in a film with her boyfriend Eddie Wood, who was also HIV positive.[6]

According to former pornographic actress Shelley Lubben, a 1980s outbreak of HIV led to the death of 27 porn stars between 1985 and 1989, including Wade Nichols (who died in 1985[7]), John Holmes (who died in 1988), Marc Stevens(who died in 1989), and Al Parker (who died in 1992).[7]

When Nichols died in 1985,[7] his fellow porn star Ron Jeremy denied that Nichols' death was AIDS-related.[8]:406

In February 1986, Holmes was diagnosed as HIV-positive, six months after he had been tested negative for the virus. During the summer of 1986, Holmes, knowing his HIV status, agreed to perform in two pornographic films to be filmed in Italy, without informing the producers of his HIV status. Performers in one film, The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empress, were Ilona "Cicciolina" Staller, who later became a member of the Italian parliament, Tracey Adams, Christoph Clark, and Amber Lynn.[9] Performers in the other film, The Devil In Mr. Holmes, were Adams, Lynn, Karin Schubert, and Marina Hedman. Subsequently, it was revealed that Holmes had consciously chosen not to reveal his HIV status to his producers or co-stars before engaging in unprotected sex for the filming.[9][10][11][12] As his health failed, Holmes disingenuously attributed his condition to colon cancer and first confided that he had AIDS in January 1987.[13] He died from AIDS-related complications on March 13, 1988, aged 43.[14]

Stevens died of AIDS[8]:405 in 1989, aged 46.[15] Parker died in 1992 from complications of AIDS, aged 40.[15]


Marc Wallice, a known IV drug user,[16] tested HIV positive in 1998. On April 30, 1998, he was diagnosed by Adult Industry Medical (AIM) as HIV positive.[17] It was alleged that he had hidden his HIV positive status for two years, with rumors that he accomplished this by using fake blood work through several HIV testing cycles to continue working. This speculation has been disputed and investigated using Wallice's tests,[18][19] but it has not been doubted that during this period Wallice infected seven women on the set: Brooke Ashley,[20] Tricia Devereaux,[21] Caroline, Nena Cherry, Jordan McKnight, Barbara Doll, and Kimberly Jade.[16]

2000s

After four years of no reported HIV-issues within the industry, in April 2004, AIM diagnosed Darren James as being HIV-positive. It was concluded that James had been infected while engaging in unprotected anal sex with Brazilian actress Bianca Biaggi during a scene for the video Split That Booty 2 in Rio de Janeiro.[22][23][24] AIM initiated an urgent search for other potentially infected performers.[25] It was discovered that three actresses who had worked with James shortly after his return to the United States had also become infected. These were Canadians Lara Roxx and Miss Arroyo, and Czech-born Jessica Dee.[26][27][28]

The heterosexual segment of the porn industry voluntarily shut down for 30 days (a 60-day moratorium was originally announced but it was lifted early) while it tried to deal with the situation.[29] Darren James, Jessica Dee, and Lara Roxx were barred from further production of sexually explicit content. About 60 actors who had had contact with James or Roxx were barred from working until HIV tests were completed and they were declared HIV negative. A further estimated 130 actors who had had contact with James were tested and received an HIV-negative result. A total of five actors were diagnosed with the virus by the end of the moratorium: one male and four females, including one transsexual[22][23][24] named Jennifer.[27]

In June 2009, AIM reported that a female adult entertainer had tested positive, though it was believed that transmission occurred in her private life. LA County Public Health claimed that there had been 16 "unreported" HIV cases in the adult film industry. The AIM Healthcare Foundation claimed those cases did not involve actors in production companies that followed their testing protocols and included members of the general public who used AIM Healthcare testing services or individuals attempting to work in the porn industry who never were able to obtain employment in adult films because of their failure to provide proof negative status for HIV or other STD.[30]

2010s

On October 12, 2010, AIM reported that an actor or actress had been infected with HIV. The name and gender of the person was not released to the public.[31] Vivid Entertainment and Wicked Pictures were the first companies to announce a production shutdown. Although Wicked Pictures allow some performers to wear condoms, the company shut down to wait for the quarantine list.[32] Several other porn studios shut down as a preventative measure.[33] At the time, no other performers tested HIV positive.[34]

In December, the HIV positive performer was identified as Derrick Burts. Burts had worked in both heterosexual and gay pornography.[35] Despite contracting gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis, Burts continued taking part in unprotected sex in films before quitting once he was diagnosed as being HIV positive. He was informed by the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation that he had contracted the disease, which according to Burts, he received on a set outside the AIM system, while having oral sex scene with another "HIV positive male actor".[36]

In August 2011, the industry was temporarily shut down because of news of a performer was testing positive for the virus. Diane Duke, executive director of the Free Speech Coalition, confirmed the situation. Production later resumed production when a performer was retested and it came back negative.

In June 2013, a gay male performer tested positive for HIV in a routine FSC-conducted blood test.[37] The anonymous performer had previously worked exclusively on condom-only movies.[38] FSC determined that the infection did not take place on-set.[39]

In August 2013, an adult female performer, Cameron Bay, tested HIV positive.[40][41][42][43] In response, FSC organized an industry wide moratorium from August 21 to August 27. On September 4, Rod Daily, Cameron Bay’s ex-boyfriend,[44] announced he had also tested HIV positive.[45] Two days later, a third anonymous female performer tested positive [46] prompting FSC to organize a second moratorium from September 6 to September 20.[47] All three infections were found to have taken place off-set.[47] Rumors surfaced of a fourth HIV positive test during September but they were never substantiated.[48]

In December 2013, a male porn actor tested HIV positive, leading FSC to halt production for one week. This infection was also determined to have taken place off-set.[39]

Testing and clinics

The revelations led to the creation of the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation (AIM Healthcare or AIM) in 1998, which helped set up a monitoring system in the pornographic film industry in the United States, and pornographic film actors were required to be tested for HIV every 30 days.[49]

The AIM system required all sexual contact to be logged, with positive test results leading to all sexual contacts for the last three to six months being contacted and re-tested. The use of condoms became standard in films featuring homosexual anal sex. Due to accurate and mandatory medical tests, HIV and AIDS cases became rare in the pornographic film industry.

However, testing is voluntary (though refusal to be tested can result in the actor not being cast in a sex role) and there is no testing or monitoring of the pornographic film industry in other countries. There have been indications that actors have voluntarily left the industry, at least the industry in the United States, rather than be tested by AIM and have their AIDS and HIV status disclosed.

AIM closed all its operations in May 2011, forcing the industry to look for other mechanisms for supporting and enforcing regular testing.[50] The gap was filled by the Free Speech Coalition, which set up the APHSS system, now known as Performer Availability Screening Services (PASS).[51]

Legislation

Regulations to limit the spread of HIV

Due to this limited outbreak, the California State government considered regulating the industry. Some proposed to mandate the wearing of condoms during sexually explicit scenes. Industry insiders say this would ruin sales of their wares since the unprotected content is one of the selling points of some of their films. They say the wearing of condoms ruins the sexual fantasies of many viewers. Insiders say that such regulation would force the industry underground, out of California or overseas where it would be more prone to health risks for performers. The non-profit Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation (AIM Healthcare) worked with the government, to develop policies that both the industry and the government would find acceptable.[52]

2012 ballot measure in Los Angeles

In the 2012 election voters in Los Angeles were presented with Measure B ("Safer Sex In the Adult Film Industry Act") with the following text:[53]

Shall an ordinance be adopted requiring producers of adult films to obtain a County public health permit, to require adult film performers to use condoms while engaged in sex acts, to provide proof of blood borne pathogen training course, to post permit and notices to performers, and making violations of the ordinance subject to civil fines and criminal charges?

Proponents of the measure claimed pornography performers were significantly more likely to acquire HIV than the general population and that they are generally not given health insurance by their employers and so the tax payer would foot the bill for HIV treatment. Opponents claimed it to be a waste of tax dollars because of existing stringent HIV testing protocols and because nobody has contracted HIV on set in the past 8 years in the United States.

The measure passed with 57% voting for and 43% voting against.[54][55]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "L.A. pushes for condoms in porn legislation, but state lawmakers balk". Capitol Weekly (Sacramento, California). 24 June 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  2. ↑ Goldstein, Binh Y.; Steinberg, Jane K.; Aynalem, Getahun; Kerndt, Peter R. (July 2011). "High Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Incidence and Reinfection Among Performers in the Adult Film Industry". Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Abstract with links to text and PDF.) (American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association) 38 (7): 644–648. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0b013e318214e408. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "Mr. Marcus Ordered To Pay LaVey $130,000 for Syphilis Exposure". AVN Media Newtork. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  4. ↑ Grudzen, Corita R.; Kerndt, Peter R. (June 19, 2007). "The Adult Film Industry: Time to Regulate?". PLoS Medicine. Public Library of Science, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Archived from the original on August 6, 2007. Retrieved October 1, 2007.
  5. ↑ Martin Amis (March 17, 2001). "A rough trade". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Powers Shoots HIV-Positive, Hetero Scene", by Mark Kernes, Adult Video News, 2005-08-11. "AVN Reviews: Dirty Debutantes 2005 327 & 328", Marc Star, Adult Video News. Both retrieved 2007-07-17
  7. 1 2 3 Lubben, Shelley (September 3, 2013). "STD and HIV Outbreaks in the Porn Industry Since the 1980's". http://pornharmsresearch.com/ (compilation). Morality in Media. Retrieved 10 September 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  8. 1 2 Jennings, David (2000). "Chapter 20: AIDS and Other Four-Letter Words". Skinflicks: The Inside Story of the X-Rated Video Industry. David Jennings. ISBN 1-58721-184-X. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  9. 1 2 Various (2008). Patrick, John, ed. Huge. STARbooks. p. 13. ISBN 1-934187-29-1.
  10. ↑ Holden, Stephen (12 January 2001). "WADD: The Life and Times of John C. Holmes". New York Times (movie review).
  11. ↑ Hawes, William (2009). Caligula and the fight for artistic freedom: the making, marketing and impact of the Bob Guccione film. McFarland. p. 203. ISBN 0-7864-3986-6.
  12. ↑ Viladevall, Ferrán (16 May 2014). "La mala vida del rey del porno". El Mundo (Spain) (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  13. ↑ Basten, Fred; Laurie Holmes; John C. Holmes (1998). Porn King: The John Holmes Story. John Holmes Inc. ISBN 1-880047-69-1.
  14. ↑ Scheeres, Julia. "The Wonderland Murders". Turner Entertainment Networks. Retrieved 20 May 2008. |chapter= ignored (help)
  15. 1 2 Edmonson, Roger (2000). Clone: The Life and Legacy of Al Parker, Gay Superstar. Alyson Books. p. 205. ISBN 1555835295.
  16. 1 2 Excalibur's Porn Star Mall. Biography - Marc Wallice Porn Star
  17. ↑ "Porn Industry Still Struggles With Condom Issue". ABC News. American Broadcasting Company. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  18. ↑ Staff. "Marc Wallice Closer to Vindication?". Adult Video News. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  19. ↑ Staff. "Marc Wallice Speaks Out on his Role in the HIV Controversy: "Brooke Ashley Is Off Her Fucking Rocker!"". Adult Video News. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  20. ↑ Kernes, Mark (2005-08-11). "Powers Shoots HIV-Positive, Hetero Scene". Adult Video News (Philadelphia, PA: Adult Video News, Inc.). ISSN 0883-7090. OCLC 12197226. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  21. ↑ Allen, Jane E. (2010). "Actor's Positive HIV Test Disrupts Filming as Clinic Traces On-Screen Sex Partners". ABC News. American Broadcasting Company. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  22. 1 2 AVN - Test Results Pending for Two Performers
  23. 1 2 Gene Ross (2007-05-27). [http://www.adultfyi.com/read.php?ID=22883 In Brazil the use of condoms is mandatory in penetration scenes, so actually they were breaking the law. "Lara Roxx Timeline Begs Questions: Darren James got it from Lara Roxx, not the other way around?"] Check |url= value (help). Adult FYI. line feed character in |url= at position 42 (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  24. 1 2 "Pyramid of potential infection". Los Angeles Times. 2004-04-16. Retrieved 2008-03-20. Time line of potential first and second generation infections
  25. ↑ Nick Madigan (2004-05-10). "Voice of Health in a Pornographic World". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-02-26.
    Sharon Mitchell — Well-behaved women rarely make history
  26. ↑ Nick Madigan (2004-04-30). "New H.I.V. Infection Found in Sex-Film Industry". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  27. 1 2 AVN, May 5th, 2004: Another First-Gen Woman Diagnosed as HIV-Positive
  28. ↑ AVN, April 26th, 2004: Viral Load Results Indicate James was 'Patient Zero'
  29. ↑ AIDS in pornography industry of California contained says adult industry body
  30. ↑ More porn HIV cases disclosed
  31. ↑ "Porn Actor has Tested Positive for HIV; Industry Clinic Officials Confirm a Quarantine is in Effect". Los Angeles Times. October 12, 2010. Archived from the original on 13 October 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Wicked Pictures and Vivid Entertainment Suspend Production as a Precaution Amid New HIV Case in Porn Performer". Los Angeles Times. October 12, 2010. Archived from the original on 16 October 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  33. ↑ "Positive HIV Test Halts Porn Shoots at Companies". Yahoo! News. October 13, 2010. Archived from the original on 15 October 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  34. ↑ "HIV Tests Negative for Porn Actors Who Performed with 'Patient Zero'". Los Angeles Times. October 22, 2010. Archived from the original on 24 October 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  35. ↑ Hennessy-Fiske, Molly (December 8, 2010). "HIV-positive porn performer speaks out". Los Angeles Times.
  36. ↑ "Derrick Burts: HIV in pornography: the naked truth". The Independent (London). December 23, 2010.
  37. ↑ "FSC Pass". FSC PASS. 2013. Retrieved 2013.
  38. ↑ "Adult Performer Tests Positive for HIV » The Sex.com Blog". Sex.com. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  39. 1 2 "ViralGenealogyConclusive:PositivePerformerfromDecemberMoratoriumContractedVirusinPersonalLife". PASS Blog. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  40. ↑ Abby Sewell (August 24, 2013). "Porn actress' positive HIV test roils adult entertainment world". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  41. ↑ Joe Kemp (August 23, 2013). "Porn star Cameron Bay tests positive for HIV". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  42. ↑ Sydney Lupkin (August 23, 2013). "Porn Star Cameron Bay Opens Up About HIV Scare". Nightline ABC News. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  43. ↑ Rory Carroll (August 25, 2013). "US porn actor's HIV test prompts calls for moratorium on production". The Guardian (Los Angeles). Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  44. ↑ http://therealpornwikileaks.com/cameron-bay-talked-michael-whiteacre-last-night/
  45. ↑ "Rod Daily, Gay Porn Star, Says He is HIV Positive". Huffington Post. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  46. ↑ "Yet Another HIV-Positive Porn Performer Leads To Third Shutdown". Huffington Post. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  47. 1 2 "FSC Announces Moratorium To Life On Friday, September 20". FSC. September 2013.
  48. ↑ "Moratorium Update". Free Speech Coalition. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  49. ↑ Basten, Fred; Laurie Holmes; John C. Holmes (1998). Porn King: The John Holmes Story. John Holmes Inc. ISBN 1-880047-69-1.
  50. ↑ Dennis Romero (May 3, 2011). "Porn Clinic AIM Closes For Good: Valley-Based Industry Scrambles to Find New STD Testing System". LA Weekly. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  51. ↑ "FSC Pass". FSC PASS. 2013. Retrieved 2013.
  52. ↑ The Adult Film Industry: Time to Regulate?
  53. ↑ "Measure B: Safer Sex In the Adult Film Industry Act - Los Angeles County, CA". Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  54. ↑ Shergold, Adam (8 November 2012). "California votes to mandate condoms in porn industry". Daily Mail (London). Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  55. ↑ "Porn industry trade group vows to fight condom requirement". Los Angeles Times. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.

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