LA demands condom use, but is unsure of how to enforce it

 

In the past few weeks, there has been a great deal of discussion about a proposed ordinace in Los Angeles that would require adult film actors to wear condoms while shooting pornographic films. According to CBS News, the Los Angeles City Council recently voted to pass this ordinance, though it has yet to take effect.

The ordinance mandates that porn producers provide condoms on their sets and make it compulsory that all actors use them if they want to obtain a permit to film in L.A. This is in an effort to promote safer sex and reduce sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk for adult film stars.

While the The AIDS Healthcare Foundation fully supports this move, The Free Speech Coalition is skeptical of the ordinance.

"Government regulation of filmmaking would likely undermine existing health and safety efforts and industry standards that are effective as well as take the government into dangerous new territory," said Diane Duke, coalition executive director, quoted by the news source.

The Los Angeles City Council voted 9-1 for the proposal on January 17th, and has declared that a committee of health officials and police officers needs to be formed to determine how this ordinance will be enforced.

"Ultimately I think what they will find is people will just stop shooting in the city of Los Angeles," said erotic movie maker Steven Hirsch, quoted by CBS. "That's a given."

According to Avert.org, condoms, when used correctly, are the only contraceptives that can effectively prevent the transmission of STDs. The news source adds that the pores in latex condoms are too small to allow the HIV virus to pass through.