Measure B passed: Adult film actors forced to wear condoms on set

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Published time: November 08, 2012 08:45
Edited time: November 08, 2012 12:45

Los Angeles County voters have passed a law requiring actors in adult movies to wear condoms while performing on set. US porn film producers are outraged, and are planning to go to court to challenge the decision, calling the law “unconstitutional”.

­The Free Speech Coalition, hailing itself as "the adult product and entertainment industry's trade association," said forcing actors to wear condoms would make porn filmmaking "untenable", AFP reported.

America’s multi-million dollar adult film industry is largely based in Los Angeles and fears fewer viewers would want to see porn films with actors using condoms.

"Therefore we will file suit and challenge this intolerable law in court," The Free Speech Coalition said in a letter following a referendum measure.

"The law, as passed, is untenable for adult production," it emphasized.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, meanwhile, has welcomed the result in which 55.9 percent of voters backed the condom-use proposal.

According to AFP, LA County voters backed the condom initiative after campaigners collected over 360,000 signatures to force the issue onto the ballot on the same day as White House and Congressional elections and over 170 state-wide polls.

Last year, leading porn producers had to stop filming for nearly a week after a performer tested positive for HIV. The Free Speech Coalition said, however, the case was later determined to have been a false report.

In 2010, porn actor Derrick Burts was confirmed as HIV-positive which also halting production, and in 2004 at least five performers tested positive prompting another moratorium.