Comments on: hiv & porn- it makes a headline

By: Iamcuriousblue

Iamcuriousblue — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:18:38 +0000

The situation is far more complex than Xbiz or LA Times make it out to be. Ernest Greene of AIM Health Care has an extensive post on the topic, here:

http://bppa.blogspot.com/2009/06/latest-hiv-in-porn-panic-rumor-control.html

As for the “16 unpublicized cases”, this isn’t entirely honest reporting on the part of the LA Health department. 4 of the 16 actually have no connection to the porn industry, but simply “civilians” who used AIMH as a testing service (AIMH makes itself available as a commercial testing service for people outside the industry as well). Of the remaining 12, 11 were from the gay porn industry, which has a (mostly) separate talent pool and the exact opposite approach to condoms versus testing (testing is voluntary, condoms are mandatory, and the working assumption is that all talent is potentially HIV+). In the case of the 11 gay industry performers and 1 hetero industry performer, its not clear that the infections took place within the industry. Porn, of course, draws from the larger sexually active population, a certain percentage of which are HIV+.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:45:46 +0000

And it turns out that I stand corrected. According to the trade magazine Xbiz, there have been 16 previously unpublicized cased of HIV within the porn world since 2004.

http://www.xbiz.com/news/109234

Whether this will prompt the industry or legislators to require condoms on porn sets, as some are proposing or not, it’s still seems to me that one is at much more risk for HIV on the average college campus than on a porn set. (Admittedly, I haven’t looked the exact numbers up, but you get what I’m saying.) And of course, if someone in the porn business becomes infected with HIV, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it happened on set.

I’d be really curious to know what safer sex practices people in porn use when they’re not working. If there are any sexology grad students out there who are looking for a research topic, email me.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:22:52 +0000

Fair enough. But I still think it’s interesting that despite the stereotypes and the lack of condom use on porn sets, that it makes the news when someone in the industry is infected with HIV.B

By: Tony Comstock

Tony Comstock — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:14:06 +0000

Charlie: 2.8%/month is not less than less than 22% annually. Also, according to the article you’ve cited AIM tests for HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. The CDC figures include a much broader spectrum of STDs.

By: secondlastwish

secondlastwish — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:35:41 +0000

The issue between LA County and AIM is mostly about their practice in terms of reporting and often not following state requirements around reporting and confidentiality.

Also, HIV acquisition and transmission for an adult film actor is considered an OSHA issue because it’s a bloodborne pathogen exposure in the workplace. Straight up. You are comparing HIV and STD transmission rates to the population rates, but the population rarely acquires STDs through standard work practices (if ever). I think you’re making a case for incidental exposure to colds and flus, which happens on a porn set too I’m sure…and totally sucks when people show up to any workplace sick with anything.

Personally, I think treating HIV as an OSHA issue really legitimizes the work of the actors and I would hope that eventually actors and producers would agree.

This is also notable because this has been an ongoing issue between the adult film industry and LA County about workplace safety. This HIV case could have (if transmitted on set) been prevented with the OSHA recommendations. There’s more to it than the sex angle, but I think you’re right that it’s easier to get coverage because of those stereotypes.

[I totally admit I have a chip on my shoulder about Dr. Mitchell since she testified in the Haidl rape case about their being a market for porn about the rape of people who are possibly dead. (http://www.ocweekly.com/2005-07-14/news/haidl-claims-judge-screwed-him/)

*i didn’t mean for this to be so long! thanks for allowing me a small soap box*