AHF: National Coalition of STD Directors Backs Condoms In Adult Films

While not explicitly or directly supporting the "Condoms in Porn" ballot measure, the National Coalition of STD Directors' latest policy statement supports the principles of condom use outlined in ballot measure

LOS ANGELES (January 8, 2016) — Today AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) applauded the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) for its updated policy statement in support of protecting workers in the adult film industry from STDs and HIV.  In a letter publicly distributed on December 18th, NCSD Executive Director William A. Smith promotes condom usage in adult film production and writes, "After passing a Policy Statement on Worker Health and Safety in the Adult Film Industry in 2010, NCSD continues to be concerned about insufficient STD and HIV prevention efforts within the adult film industry. This industry creates between 4,000-11,000 films each year with gross revenue of $9-13 billion annually. Yet evidence suggests that the industry fails to take the necessary steps to ensure its thousands of workers are protected from acquiring STDs, including HIV."

Smith continues that "attempts to encourage the industry to regulate itself have for the most part failed, leading to the need for national regulation of the industry and multifaceted efforts to ensure enforcement" and declares that NCSD supports policy efforts that require:

• Performers undergo regular, confidential STD and HIV testing at employer expense;
• Actors use condoms in adult film production;
• Workers receive health training about condom use for the prevention of HIV and other STDs;
• Health Departments are Partners in Prevention.

"We are pleased that the National Coalition of STD Directors' support for protecting adult film performers is as strong today as it was back in 2010 when its members passed a policy statement in support of condoms being mandatory on adult film sets," said AHF President Michael Weinstein. "In the interim, we've successfully passed Measure B in Los Angeles County and have completed the steps necessary to put an initiative requiring condoms on adult film sets in California on the statewide ballot in November.  With this new statement from NCSD, California voters can pass the initiative knowing they are in good company with our nation's leading public health officials who work each day to promote sexual health through the prevention of STDs."

The California Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act is a statewide condom ballot measure modeled on Measure B, a measure officially known as the 'County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act,' which passed with overwhelming voter support—57% to 43%—in the November 2012 election in Los Angeles County.  The statewide measure promoted by AHF and FAIR (For Adult Industry Responsibility) was deemed "eligible for the ballot" by California Secretary of State Alex Padilla in November 2015.  Initial polling on the proposed statewide measure that was conducted in September 2014 suggests as many as 71% of the state's voters would back the measure.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 500,000 individuals in 36 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare