by Third Axis op/ed
I’ve been closely following the press — and the ongoing responses to it — surrounding the recent HIV incident, and have myself posted on a couple of forums regarding my thoughts and opinions on the matter. I feel that I do have some particular insight, insofar as I’ve worked in this industry since the late ’90s and saw firsthand the impacts that previous health incidents have had on performers, production people, and others associated with our business.
The recent episode is no different, except for the fact that this time only one currently confirmed HIV victim is directly involved as an actual performer, despite the numbers being incorrectly used to generalize that one (heterosexual) individual among a larger group of HIV-positive gay performers and other non-performers who have been detected through AIM, and identified as such. This incident has been the source of much heated opinion, speculation, and outright disinformation from not only mainstream journalists and anti-porn/pro-regulation pundits, but also from within our own adult community. Much of this opinion and "information" has been shockingly lacking in factual basis and often poorly informed, whether well-intentioned or not, and it surprises me that so many know so little about the workings of our industry yet insist on making sweeping generalizations about it. But that’s the thing about Americans; we’re a very opinionated people, and we never let a little thing like the truth get in the way.
One thing relating to the recent incident strikes me in particular. That is the hue and cry from those within and without the adult industry for some form of governmental control or oversight regarding HIV and general STI testing, as well as the legally mandated use of barrier protection (which can include condoms, dental dams, latex gloves, etc.) during sexual activity performed for commercial purposes. I won’t go into the pros and cons of the latter, as there are simply too many facets to the issue to sum it up briefly. I’ll just state here that I do support the use of barrier protection (condoms only), on a case-by-case basis, with respect to the individual choice of performers, but also with equal respect to the artistic/visual direction of the work in question. What I DO NOT support is any legal requirement that would remove or hinder in any way the exercising of that free choice.
The same applies to the issue of current industry HIV/STI testing, which, given the overwhelmingly positive track record of detection, verification/notification, quarantining, and the education provided over much of the past decade, has served our industry quite well. We can thank the continued work of AIM for this, wherever your personal opinion of their system, protocols, or public relations stands. I welcome anyone to cite verifiable information or statistics that would show any other clinical system in the U.S. to have an equal or better record than AIM within the particular requirements of the adult industry. In fact, virtually any major public hospital in this country has been directly accountable for fatalities and severe medical complications related to outright negligence, lapses in established protocols, failures in accurate record keeping, etc. In comparison, although these diagnostic/treatment systems are of far different scale and scope, AIM’s record of accuracy and prompt response to medical alerts places them in favorably high order.
To AIM’s detractors, I would say that you are not only ill-informed but plainly ignorant to suggest that its protocols or response system are "broken" and need to be cast aside in favor of some other, wholly unproven regimen. In this country, we live under a free-enterprise system where fair competition is unrestrained to challenge the status quo. If there is a better system than that which is offered by AIM, then let it prove itself over an equally long term. To claim, as some have, that AIM holds any kind of unfair monopoly on industry testing, or has made some secret deal with mysterious forces within the power matrix of the porn world is ridiculous and has yet to be supported with any facts. No other private foundation or company has made a qualified attempt to provide an acceptable alternative, either, so I say put up or shut up.
Those points aside, I also challenge those who would welcome legal control or oversight from any state or county (or even federal) health authority, to show me where such governmental control has actually improved any area upon which it has been imposed. Look at our nationwide healthcare system; it’s in shambles. Closer to home, take a look at California, and Los Angeles County in particular. Statewide and locally, has bureaucracy done a favorable job on our public hospitals, clinics, and medical-insurance systems? The answer is a resounding "NO!" Do you seriously believe that yet one more branch of a blatantly ineffective bureaucracy could possibly improve a system that already has a statistically high record of success, such as that of AIM? Please, then, give us all the facts so that we may make an informed choice.
Has the USDA or FDA kept our food or other products totally safe? Have the tobacco companies been regulated well enough to keep them from giving smokers, and even non-smokers, cancer and other life-threatening diseases over the last half-century? Has the pharmaceutical industry received close enough oversight to halt it from poisoning, killing, and debilitating generations of Americans. Has OSHA kept any workplace 100-percent safe from injury or death, or the long-term effects of exposure to harmful substances? Government can only do so much, and invariably it does so with criminal waste, incompetency, and obstruction of the truth. I shudder to think what it would do to the adult industry if given the opportunity to put even one foot toward imposing its regulatory agenda.
To all of you who invite Big Brother with welcoming arms — I say, be careful of what you wish for.
I agree that the use of condoms should be on a “case by case” basis, however I think that the MENTALITY that many of whom produce the porn harbor, actually discourages and (if not nearly completely – but unofficially) bans the use of condom use in scenes as of current – supposedly due to condoms making the final product go “down in value and marketability”.
This mentality is something that needs to be altered.
I’m not certain as to whether the government needs to step in, but being that the LA department of Health is already offering free HIV testing this week, it looks as though it’s already happening. I’m not for or against this.
I think the real issue with AIM’s policies is that the quarantine time frame (for talents who have had sexual exposure to HIV infected talents) is a bit too short. Being that HIV can take 3 to 6 months to produce a positive result in an individual’s system, the quarantine window should be extended to protect other talents (especially the young girls who are ill informed as to this issue who are fresh off the bus & who you know damn well will be thrown into scenes with people who have been potentially infected with the HIV virus – as they are generally very anxious to get back to work as soon as their quarantine window has closed).
So you are saying someone can get HIV and infect people for at least 3-6 months before they themselves know they have it? What a glamorous life porn is, when can I make my debut?
Bingo. Until some changes are implemented I’d suggest you simply go the webcam/solo route.
Third Axis my friend, very well said. I salute you.
EVERY single time you have sex with a person who has unprotected sex with multiple partners on a regular basis, you put yourelf into one of the highest risk groups of people for the possibility of contracting HIV and a multitude of other diseases.
Not only are you risking your own health, you in turn are putting your partner at the same risk. I find it rather amazing that this needs to be constanly pointed out to people who work in the “Adult” entertainment industry.
Just remember, you are putting your partner at risk, as well as taking a risk yourself. there is the old saying,”When you point one finger at somebody else, you point three fingers back at yourself.”
I’m not going any route… my body is my castle, meaning it’s not for sale and no graffiti… I wouldn’t be good at prostitution like some others here are
This is my main issue, if you are in the “adult” industry you are assuming the risk of preforming. Take all things into consideration. To focus on only one issue is to ignore more serious ones to the detriment of you’re own health. Who would have thought drug use and multiple partners would be a risk? Certainly not our “resident” MD.
Men and women who get paid to have sex, i.e. prostitutes, will always be at the highest risk of STD’s than any other single group.
boredfan,
your statement about assuming risk is true, but it is a two way street. When you paerform in porn, you assume the risk that you may be infecting your partner as well.
this is an anoalogy I have used here before….
At the golf course there is a sign that says “Golf at your own risk.” What this sign means is, that if you golf here, and strike a ball and send it flying through the air, you assume the risk of the damage that ball might do, and you are finanicially responsible for any damage that ball does to any person or property. It does not mean that if you get hit by a ball that you have no remedy against the person who struck that ball. the same goes for porn, you are responsible for the damage you do to somebody else.