When I read erotica or romance, I get completely distracted when reading sex scenes where the characters don't practice safe sex. My mind gets filled with "What if's." The AIDS Healthcare Foundation wants the law in place in California, where there was an outbreak of AIDS in the porn industry in 2004. California's worker study board has voted to study the foundation's proposal. According to the Daily Chilli, "By law, US adult film actors must prove they have tested negative for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases within 30 days of going to work on a film."
Cort Tafoya, a staff writer at the Daily Titan, had this to say on the subject:
Porn is an art, there’s no getting around that. Mandating a male porn actor to wear a condom is like requiring Da Vinci to use only watercolors; not only would it be nonsensical, it’d be damaging to our culture.
Unfortunately, America’s trend of excessive government regulation has overtaken one of its most booming businesses, the porn industry. A six-member California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted unanimously to review a study from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which is petitioning for a law requiring porn stars to wear condoms.
The writer goes on to say the following:
After viewing hours and hours of porn in an attempt to research for this article, I realized that mandatory condoms would not only destroy the fantasies of the single, overweight virgins who constantly watch porn, but would also attack our most precious constitutional right to free speech.
So, here's my question: Should laws require that actors in porn wear condoms, or is that infringing on civil rights, or is the testing requirement enough?
Well, my new comment system lasted all of 30 minutes before I got mad at it. So, I deleted it, but that deleted the comments for the post.
ReplyDeleteHere's what LVLM wrote that got deleted:
Huh? You're having trouble with email replies?
Well, if it were me working in the industry, I'd be pushing for condoms as well. Especially where anal sex is involved.
I wonder though how many porn stars are contracting aids or sexually transmitted diseases these days? If it's still an issue, then yeah, enforce condoms maybe.
And there is a difference between porn and erotic romance. I hate when condoms aren't used in erotic romance because for me that's about character. It's about the hero and heroine being respectful to each other as much as it's about safe sex. So it's more than disease prevention to me.
But in porn, we're talking pure fantasy. The viewer is not looking at it to feel those two people falling in love and having a relationship, it's all about titillation and getting off sexually.
For me it is different. But I figure people in the porn industry should decide that. Not the gov.
Um... for the record on the new comment system. This is blogger, right? Cause normally when I have Google reader open I don't have to sign in to comment on other "blogger" blogs cause I'm signed in already. But this is asking me name and email to post a comment.
That was weird...you changed the comment section mid-comment, lol. this one looks better, and easier to use.
ReplyDeletePorn- yes condoms. It pulls me out if they don't, but laws? I don't know. I'm sick of laws...
Books- don't care as much. But I read mostly pnr or historical. When I read contemp. I prefer condoms or I get pulled out thinking "that's not good".
I hear my students talk every day, and I really think that AIDS awareness has declined with a large part of the population. I know that a lot of people in the 16 to 19 age range around here think that pregnancy is their biggest concern when it comes to "safe" sex. I've even had to dispel some myths recently. One rumor that has been spread around is that "AIDS was found on the stairs" of another school in the area. I had to explain to high school kids that wouldn't have happened. They just don't have the awareness they should. I can see the argument for making a law requiring condom use in porn. I can also see the argument that that would be a civil rights violation. I know there isn't a good answer.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Amora. I decided that new system sucked.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the idea that condoms should be used, but I don't know if that is the government's domain. If the pass the law in California, I just assume the industry will find a new place to produce and distribute.
I do think they should be used by everyone, porn stars or regular people not in committed monogamous relationships. But, I don't believe it should be forced by the government. Should the industry require it? That would be their choice. My opinion, barebacking porn stars are idiots but it's their right to be idiots. Umm, can you tell I'm pro-choice.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this info.
Lily, I just wish people would use common sense so that this wasn't an issue. Sigh . . . unfortunately there are tons of people who seem to lack common sense. If the government did enforce such a law, there would be the chance that it wouldn't stop there. Just last week, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the pill. That reminds me that there was a time when the American government implemented forced sterilizations in people whom they deemed unfit to reproduce--the mentally challenged, the deaf, the blind, etc., as well as Native Americans and African-Americans who lived in poverty. While that is not the same issue that is being debated today, it does remind me that our government has been known to overstep its bounds before.
ReplyDeleteI'd just as soon see safe sex modeled everywhere. And 30 days isn't long enough for everything to show up...
ReplyDeleteRight now, the biggest opponents to the proposed law are those that make het porn...
You're right, Chris. Thirty days is not long enough for everything to show up.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, there are still a lot of people who see AIDS as a "gay" disease only. They have the same head-in-the-sand/it-won't-affect-me attitude that I've been seeing in my students over the past few years. Plus, HIV/AIDS isn't the only dangerous consequence that can occur from not using a condom. I just get so disgusted when people choose to live in ignorance.
I hear ya. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteLily said it for me. Yes, I think it's smart, especially in porn (and not just gay porn) but people have a right to make their own choices in life, even if they are stupid ones. A law will just force it underground. At least now there is testing, if barebacking ends up being filmed in some kind of backroom no one is going to do anything responsible then.
ReplyDeleteAlso HIV is rising among women less so than men it seems these days so the focus shouldn't be on only gay men or gay porn but I think young women should be more of a target. A lot of HIV comes from drug use as well. Are you goiong to legislate not sharing needles? We have needed exchange programs in Canada, junkies can get free clean needles but are we going to arrest them if they don't?
I do like that ad though. He is a cutie.
You're right, Tam. Young women should be more of a target. I know that the percentages of women who are diagnosed have been considerably lower than those for men, but I also think that many young women think "It won't happen to me." While condom use can't and shouldn't be legislated, I do think that something should be done to increase everyone's awareness.
ReplyDelete