Los Angeles city council has given final approval in a 9-1 vote requiring actors in pornographic films to wear condoms during production of films. Actors will be required to use condoms regardless of personal objection if they want to film within Los Angeles. Will legislation and the subsquent enforcement effectively stop production of adult films in Los Angeles? There are a number of important issues wrapped up within this legislation. As a public health issue keeping HIV and STI rates low is certainly an important idea. HIV and STD testing within the industry is already widely mandated and most get tested monthly if not more frequently. Most adult film stars choose to do so even with the requirements within their field regardless of where they film. Condom use is an entirely separate debate. Studios encouraging actors to use condoms is a great idea in the battle against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. From a personal view forced use of condoms is something i would not advocate for. This vote to require condom use seems more like an attempt to get rid of adult film production in Los Angeles rather than a wholehearted attempt at trying to reduce infection rates. What do you think? Take the poll and comment!
In theory, I like this law. It would be better if it was a requirement across the United States.
Mandated use of condoms by adult film stars might :
--contribute to condom use by some of the folks that watch adult films.
Cons
--Mandating the use of condoms in Los Angeles alone probably wont have much impact. As Chris points out, producers will simply choose to film in other cities. (And if condom use was mandated throughout the United States, Adult films could still be filmed in other countries without such restrictions.
HI Jen,
Thanks for visiting us . I do agree in theory if most localities required adult film stars to use condoms that it might level the playing field and thus encourage wider use. In practice however I don't think we can mandate condom use in any setting. It ultimately remains a matter of personal freedom and I would never want to take that away from an individual. As a health professional I do encourage condom use but never would suggest that we mandate it. This legislation may really be more about moral judgments about pornography rather than condom use. Ultimately I would hope that an individual makes the most sound decision for their own health including condom use when necessary and frequent HIV/STI testing.