Transcript AIDS and the Adult Film Industry

AIDS and the
U.S. Adult Film Industry
Maria Salas
Nov. 29, 2001
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“Why the adult film industry?”
 Commercial
sex workers with risks very
similar to prostitutes…
 …but it’s legal!
 Mass distribution!
 Billion dollar industry!
 Close-knit and tight-lipped community
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Some questions…

What is the risk?

Is the industry protecting its workers?

Social responsibility of media?

What is the future of adult films in the age of
AIDS?
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The business of sex on film

20,000 jobs in San Fernando Valley each
year
 $800 million in video sales in the US alone
 75% of video stores sell pornography
 Obscenity laws vary throughout regions of the
US; most censorship is self-regulatory
 The Screen Actors Guild has not represented
adult film actors since the 1970’s
 No mandatory drug testing
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“ In the age of AIDS, nothing could be more
crazily chancy than the multiple-partner
unsafe sex practiced by porn stars (who are
also often substance abusers and/or bi). The
Meese Commission may not have to make a
move. The porn industry seems intent on
sodomizing itself into extinction.”
Vanity Fair
March 1987
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Risks: the 1970’s

Organized crime dominated the pornography
business - little regulation
 Increased production of unprotected
“hardcore” films
 Experimentation with…everything!
 STD’s accepted as part of the job
 High incidence of drug use among actors
 Many actors also worked as prostitutes
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Porn stars and AIDS
 How
many adult film actors have died
from AIDS?
 “LOTS”
 No
reporting system until 1998
 Did they get AIDS from working in porn?
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Porn stars and AIDS

John Holmes


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>2500 adult films
HIV+ in 1986
Died March 13, 1988
“There is absolutely
no evidence AIDS is
rampant"
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Reactions: the 1980’s
 Don’t
ask, don’t tell: voluntary testing
 "AIDS
testing is pretty common, but it's not
mandatory."
 Clinics were for-profit, tests were
unstandardized, and no reporting system
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Reactions: the 1980’s

Condom use




"Anal sex scenes are less common now, and if a
woman won't do it without a condom, it's OK with
the producers. We also use spermicides (which
contain an anti-viral chemical) in every scene. Also
in sex films, men never ejaculate internally.“
Long-held belief that condoms on film won’t sell
Mandatory condom use equated with censorship
Voluntary prevention and reporting remained
the standard until the 1990’s
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Changes: the 1990’s
1998: Reports that 11 hardcore actors
were HIV+
 Several major adult film companies
make pact to make condom use
mandatory
 Condoms
can be used discreetly and not
seen on film…but should they?
 Why only condoms??
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Changes: the 1990’s
Adult Industry Medical (AIM) Health Care
 Non-profit health care foundation for
adult entertainment employers and
workers
 Provides standard HIV testing every 30
days and SURVEILLANCE
 AIMS sees 400-500 sex
workers each month
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Changes: the 1990’s

AIM introduced HIV
DNA PCR testing to
replace antibody
testing


Ab ELISA is sensitive
3-6 months post
infection
DNA PCR is
sensitive 2-4 weeks
post infection
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Changes: the 1990’s
 AIM
clients also have the opportunity to
participate in the development of new
forms of protection, including condom
and microbicide studies
 Phase
II trials
 Market studies
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The future of adult films:
The good news…
Agreement
to enforce condom use
Industry-specific
health care and
surveillance
AIM
St.
James Infirmary (SF)
Unions
and advocacy
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The good news…
Safer sex educational films:
 Gay Men’s Health Crisis
 French Ministry of Health
Adult films promoting safer sex:
 Behind the Green Door remake
 “Feminist pornography”
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Feminist pornography
Pro-sex feminists?

Created by female
filmmakers
 Aimed at couples and
women
 Dominant female roles
and female-focused
storylines
 Almost always show
safe sex!
 Belief that, like safe
sex, there in no market
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…and the bad news:
 Video
and internet revolution expanded
the market and reduced regulation
 Not all adult film companies went “100%
condom” – rely on testing every 2
weeks
 “Barebacking” trend in gay pornography
 “Gonzo Porn” introduces new risks
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Some questions…

What is the risk?

Is the industry protecting its workers?


Social responsibility of media?


Witch hunts accompanying surveillance?
Should pornography be used as a tool?
What is the future of adult films in the age of
AIDS?

Can government regulation work?
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