From http://fscblogger.wordpress.com/
Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has been falsely accused by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), of obstructing a medical investigation by Los Angeles County Public Health (LACPH), in regards to the latest incidence of the possible HIV exposure of an adult industry performer, in a press release issued by AHF today.
FSC, the adult industry trade association, would like to make clear that this accusation is completely false and that is appallingly irresponsible for AHF to accuse any adult industry members of wrong-doing without any basis in actual fact.
Official statements made today by AHF President Michael Weinstein at an AHF press conference are false and seemingly based on rumor and innuendo gathered from unreliable sources.
During that press conference, Weinstein also falsely accused FSC of witholding information from public health authorities.
FSC has received no contact from LACPH, out-of-state health officials, or AHF.
“This is another prime example of AHF and its President Michael Weinstein’s outrageous grandstanding, which is completely false and baseless,” FSC Executive Director Diane Duke. “AHF has a history of spreading misinformation in order to further their agenda to force government regulation of sexual behavior. Apparently, Mr. Weinstein will stop at nothing, including spreading false information, in order to call attention to AHF’s agenda.”
To FSC’s knowledge, there is no investigation being conducted by LACPH at this time. It is impossible for FSC to obstruct an investigation that, evidently, does not exist. In the event that FSC were to be contacted by authorities from LACPH or elswehere, it would endeavor to cooperate fully, while still protecting the rights of any individuals to medical privacy.
It should also be made clear that at this time FSC does not have authorized information confirming that a performer or any performers have tested positive for HIV. However, after reports received on Saturday were corroborated by various sources, there was enough serious concern regarding the possible infection for FSC to call a moratorium on production.
It also should be noted that the possible infection took place outside of California, and there is nothing to suggest that the Los Angeles adult production industry has been affected by any possible infections. However, adult production companies in Los Angeles have voluntarily agreed to the moratorium in order to eliminate the potential for exposure.
Also, the possible exposure and subsequent events took place outside of the APHSS.org database program and therefore, outside of the authority of FSC to implement industry exposure protocols. However, FSC has reached out to concerned parties and is providing assistance.
The APHSS.org database program was developed in order to fill the gap left by the closure of Adult Industry Medical Healthcare (AIM) that, since 1998, had been the primary testing facility for adult performers. AIM was closed in May, largely due to financial pressure brought on by relentless litigation waged against them by AHF. FSC administers the APHSS.org program, which was launched on August 1, and still in the process of organizing producers, agents and performers for participation in the program.
“AHF’s campaign for mandatory condoms has done nothing but create controversy and, with the closure of AIM, has deprived the adult industry of an important health and safety resource,” Duke continued. “The industry has successfully self-regulated since 1998, due to AIM and the cooperation of the content production industry nationwide. However, without a similar system in place, the issue of industry protocols not being followed by separate testing facilities presents substantial difficulties for maintaining health and safety standards.”
FSC also has consulted with legal advisers in order to issue a demand for an immediate retraction from AHF.
LMAO.. Classic…The pot calling the kettle black…Although if Diane Duke an Weinstein were both drowning and i was forced to save one it would be double D…Only because of my “passion for the jew” LOL
Randal, what are the HIV rates over in Europorn? Do you know? i know the UK Gay Bareback scene had a scare many years ago.
How come we never hear of an outbreak in Europe–given that it’s massively disorganized?
Interesting question, Origen, good evening. I’m more familiar with the UK market/product than the rest of Europe generally, but as far as the power structure goes, there really does seem to be just a handful of guys at the top – steering – many loyal lietuenants and a cell like production system. A loose conglomerate or intermittent cartel? Either way, the end result is if such infections/outbreaks are occuring, then it’s not publicised.
I think this may be because performers outside the US, as seems to be roughly the case throughout the entertainment industry, lack the global profiles of their US counterparts. Discuss.
In closing, I’ll add that while both HIV diagnoses, and, entirely seperately, the number of UK porners also escorting, have risen dramatically in the past decade, our industry is ostensibly untouched by std scares.
Doesn’t this guys Whinestein own stock in some CONDOM company??
“Either way, the end result is if such infections/outbreaks are occuring, then it’s not publicised. I think this may be because performers outside the US, as seems to be roughly the case throughout the entertainment industry, lack the global profiles of their US counterparts. Discuss.”
Hmmm. I don’t know. Infected performers would definitely go screaming to the media…
@origen — I agree, infected performers would likely go screaming to someone.
This is very puzzling to me. Why is Europe always so squeaky-clean when it comes to HIV?
Because more people there have the CCR5 delta 32 genetic mutation so they carry / pass but don’t test POZ.
No, this doesn’t make sense either. (EDIT) White Americans are just as likely to carry the gene.(/EDIT) Also consider that porn is heavily produced in Southern and Eastern-Central Europe where the gene is less prevalent…
Then it must be a cover up – or something in the water.
LOL – I’m just waiting for a press release about the new POZ arm of straight porn – it’s gonna happen if condoms don’t become mandatory.
Are you gonna chase after “The Gift” Origen? Or are you primed to be a “Gift Giver”?
“Bug Parties” are the absolute epitome of moral debauchery. You can’t compare any form of erotica to such a disgusting practice. In fact, porn’s testing culture has WORKED for the last 3 outbreaks.
Performers should be ALWAYS allowed to choose whether they use condoms or not but they shouldn’t be mandatory across the board. Especially since these last three outbreaks have shown that escorting is a more likely source of HIV contraction.
I do agree. I smell cover-up. But how?
See, you just brought light to why there’s going to be a POZ arm of straight porn.
“…Especially since these last three outbreaks have shown that escorting is a more likely source of HIV contraction.”
Have you not noticed that the escort agency theLuxuryCompanion.com is comprised of working pornstars from Type9models, LA Direct Models, and ATMLA (Shy Love’s agency).
The Gift appears to have a wide open gateway through escorting into the porn pool according to your logic Origen.
A whole bunch of those luxury companions were in Miami around the time of patient 0 getting busy. There’s a tour schedule for you to see which women were in the area right on their site.
POZ porn here we come. Maybe it should just be a given that all porn from here on out is POZ. Forget the testing and forget the condoms. Why not…
The last three HIV events were not “outbreaks.” They were instances. An outbreak means multiple related instances.
There has not been an outbreak in porn in seven years.
If someone who has shot porn scenes contracts HIV off-set (or it cannot be determined where that person contracted it) and does not infect anyone else on a set, then there has been no outbreak.
You right, Michael. I correct myself…
I agree, Monica. Escorting and its symbiotic relationship with porn is disgusting, immoral, and unsafe. But wrapping a rubber would not solve the problem…
Hmmmmmm – maybe a part of the solution would be for the APHSS not to give access to their database to any porn agencies that has active talent listed on TheLuxuryCompanion, MyPlantinumProvider, etc. , or to porn studios who shoot such talent.
I guess if Talent Testing Service was ethical and really cared about the porn industry they’d adopt the same policy.
It’s totally irresponsible – isn’t it, to support porn professionals who support talents escorting with possibly POZ civilians?
Only problem would be, being that almost ALL the studios shoot talent that openly escorts – there wouldn’t be hardly anyone left to join APHSS and get the monthly membership fee’s from.
LOL – I guess the APHSS is secretly down with POZ porn already.
No wonder Digital Playground keeps themselves separate from the majority.
Don’t be ashamed to be down with the POZ people – you’ve been inching toward that future day by day for a while. I’m under the impression that those who claim HIV doesn’t exist say so because they’ve been POZ for a while.
Anyone buy the domain POZstraightporn.com yet?
Based on the most liberal estimates of HIV transmission in bareback cases, there can’t be any “outbreak”. It’s a scam!
Not sure where this fits in but Saint Bill Margold was on Playboy Radio with Nicki Hunter and Debi Diamond, I’m so tired of his bullshit, I tried calling in but was too far back in line while people called him about lost porn stars. Wanted to call him on the carpet for PAW and his bullshit career as a talent scout, this shows that Uncle Jimmy is way too nice to folks, Margold has been leeching off him for almost three decades. Wondered what kind of sweatpants he wore, what an asshole.
@Michael and Origen: Thing is, no-one’s gone screaming to anyone. I’ve never come across any info related to HIV/std’s, in recent history, in the Brit or Euro scene.
Yet, as already stated, both HIV diagnoses and porners escorting has increased within the last decade.
An incongruity?
Cui bono?