THE pornography industry of California鈥檚 San Fernando Valley is under pressure to clean up its act following the news that a female actor has HIV.
Los Angeles county officials say that at least 22 actors have tested HIV-positive since 2004. The true figure could be higher, though, as some people may not disclose their occupation to testing labs. 鈥淪exually transmitted diseases are rampant [in the porn industry],鈥� says Jonathan Fielding, county director of public health.
This is avoidable, says Paula Tavrow, a public health specialist at the University of California, Los Angeles. While viewers may prefer sex scenes without condoms, she argues that modern techniques mean condoms can be used and then edited out. 鈥淭here鈥檚 absolutely no reason why this has to be an unsafe industry.鈥�
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鈥淭here is absolutely no reason why the porn industry has to be an unsafe industry鈥�
In theory, actors are already protected under , which require employers in the adult film industry to minimise actors鈥� exposure to body fluids. Enforcement is difficult, though, because production companies often contract out shoots to small firms, which are hard to trace.
Tavrow has helped draft a bill that would demand condom use and require inert substances to be used in place of body fluids. But as politicians are unwilling to associate their name with the porn industry, she has been unable to find a sponsor.