Group Calling for Condoms in Porn Launching Petition at Universal City

An organization that advocates for AIDS patients today will launch a petition drive designed to compel the use of condoms in pornographic films shot in Los Angeles.

The drive will be announced at a late-morning news conference in Universal City by officials of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation who will be joined by five former porn actors, including two men who, according to AHF, contracted AIDS through unprotected sex during filming.

The petition drive is designed to produce a ballot measure that would require the use of condoms on the set of a pornographic film in order for a Los Angeles city film permit to be issued.

The ordinance resulting from a successful signature campaign will be known as the City of Los Angeles Safer Sex In The Adult Film Industry Act.

Along with condom use, the ordinance would require the collection of a fee from adult film permit recipients to finance periodic inspections of sets in order to monitor for compliance.

For the measure to appear on the ballot next June, AHF must submit a petition with at least 41,138 qualifying signatures by Dec. 23.

"At present, animals working in film and TV productions in Los Angeles enjoy more safety and health protections than adult film performers do," said AHF President Michael Weinstein. "There are laws and state statutes to protect adult performers but there is no real enforcement..."

AHF said in a statement that it was launching the petition drive because to date, the Los Angeles City Council has "been unwilling or unable to put forth a motion tying adult film permits to condom use..."

Beyond serving as an advocacy organization, AHF is the largest nonprofit provider of medical services for AIDS/HIV patients in the United States and provides services to more than 180,000 people in 27 countries around the world.

It has long campaigned for condom use in California's porn industry, which is centered in the San Fernando Valley.

-- City News Service