A second adult film industry performer announced this week that he has been infected with HIV, prompting renewed calls for tougher enforcement and an expansion of Measure B, which requires the use of condoms in adult films in Los Angeles County.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), which sponsored Measure B, has also filed a formal request with Cal/OSHA, which has reportedly opened an investigation into the initial report of HIV infection of adult film performer Cameron Bay. She announced in August that she had contracted HIV, likely from a film shoot at the end of July.
The most recent news came on Tuesday, when adult film performer Rod Daily, who is reportedly in a dating relationship with Bay, announced on Twitter that he is HIV positive. Daily and Bay have performed in adult films, but it has not been officially confirmed that either performer contracted HIV during filming.
Peter Melton, a spokesman for CAL/OSHA, confirmed a complaint had been received, and said the department is “looking into” the issue. He said he could not comment on the matter until the investigation is complete.
Representatives of AHF viewed the footage of the July shoot with Bay, and confirmed no condom was used, which is potentially a violation of state workplace safety regulations relating to bloodborne pathogens. Measure B is only in effect in Los Angeles County.
“We are not saying that the infections happened during that shoot. What we are saying is we looked at the film, saw no condoms were being used, which is against the law,” AHF’s senior director of communications Ged Kenslea said. “It’s the second person in the last three weeks [who] has tested positive for HIV. Then, there is the recent syphilis scare and a case of hepatitis C in performers. It illustrates the need for the required use of condoms in adult films.”
However, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating to determine if any performers in the Los Angeles area had worked with Bay, and may also be infected. A spokesperson for the department declined to be identified, but said the county has not received any information about Daily’s infection.
Kenslea said Bay tested negative for HIV prior to the film shoot on July 31, then tested positive for HIV approximately three weeks later. The Free Speech Coalition, an industry trade organization that oversees adult film companies, called for a moratorium on film production in light of Bay’s announcement. The coalition lifted the ban on film production on Aug. 28 after all of the performers who worked with Bay during the period in question allegedly tested negative for HIV. It is unclear whether any partners who had been involved in film production with Daily have been tested.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued a statement indicating that the county continues to issue permits that require condom use in film production, per Measure B. Authorities are still working on creating a system to enforce the law. Violators could be fined.
Kenslea added that the recent reports of HIV infections in San Francisco demonstrate the need for a statewide bill requiring condom use in adult films. State Assemblyman Isadore Hall III (D-Los Angeles) had previously authored a statewide measure known as AB 332, which did not make it out of committee as the end of the current legislative session came to a close.
Last week, Hall revived the bill by placing the provisions about condom usage in a new bill — AB 640 — which will continue to make its way through the Assembly. Hall could not be reached for comment, but issued a statement.
“Reports of a second confirmed HIV transmission of an adult film actor should send a chilling message to the public and the adult film industry. Enough is enough,” Hall said. “The adult film industry can no longer sit on the sidelines while actors continue to be exposed to injury, harm and potentially death. The adult film industry should immediately reinstate its filming moratorium that it recklessly lifted after only six days. All actors or members of the public that have been potentially exposed to HIV should be tested by licensed medical professionals to determine the extent of this outbreak. Adult film production should only resume with comprehensive workplace safety protocols in place, including requiring condom use in all adult films.”




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