That’s a wrap – for porn stars, that is. Or is it?
Will actors that make pornography movies be required to wear condoms while filming?
It’s hard to say, but a legal brouhaha is expected before Los Angeles voters will consider a ballot on the requirement.
This week, city officials said the ballot measure received enough signatures to qualify for the June ballot.
However, L.A. City Atty. Carmen Trutanich filed court papers earlier in the month saying that Los Angeles voters would have no legal authority to adopt the proposed measure.
Trutanich argued that only the state could legally impose rules requiring the use of condoms on porn sets and charging fees to pay for inspections.
Trutanich’s said a voter-approved condom requirement could attract a lawsuit, forcing “the needless and wasteful expenditure of public resources made in connection with a measure which the voters have no power to adopt.”
Frank Mateljan, spokesman for Trutanich, was quoted as having said an in interview earlier this month: “What we’re trying to do is seek judicial clarification to see if the city of Los Angeles is preempted from regulating condoms in adult film shoots or whether those powers are relegated to other state agencies,” per the December 29th latimes.com article, “Legal fight expected over ballot measure on porn actor condom use”.
However, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which regulates workplace safety, does not agree with the city attorney’s opinion.
In a Friday email to one of Trutanich’s deputy city attorneys, Cal/OSHA chief Ellen Widess wrote that she believes the city could legally enact the restrictions envisioned in the proposed ballot measure.
“We don’t see a bar to the city or the county doing what they need to do,” Widess said in a telephone interview Monday evening. “We believe the city can use its authority to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among people involved in the adult film industry.”
Ged Kenslea, a spokesman for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the ballot measure’s main backer, said proponents obtained over 70,000 signatures, which is well over 41,000 required to place it on the ballot.
Kenslea was quoted as saying: “We’re thrilled we’ve passed this initial threshold. We believe we’re going to prevail in court and look forward to taking this issue directly to the voters.”
According to information at the organization’s website, Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a global organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to over 100,000 people in 22 countries. It is the largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the U.S.
AHF’s operating capital comes from its own self-created social enterprises. AHF Pharmacies, thrift stores, healthcare contracts and other strategic partnerships generate funding that helps AHF provide medical and advocacy services across the globe.
The organization is currently leading a mass testing initiative to identify and treat the 25 million people who don’t know they are infected. By advocating big goals – aiming to see an unprecedented 1 billion people tested each year – AHF hopes to eliminate older, more time-consuming methods.
Since 1987, AHF has cared for thousands of people living with HIV and AIDS worldwide.