Mayor Villaraigosa Signs Porn Condom Ordinance Into Law
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Tuesday signed an ordinance into law requiring male actors in pornographic videos to wear condoms. The ordinance was passed by the City Council last week.
The new municipal law — the first of its kind in the nation — was backed by the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
Michael Weinstein, president of AHF, said it was "a great day for Los Angeles, a great day for the performers and a great day for safer sex."
Many porn actors and producers publicly opposed the ordinance.
Nina Hartley, an actress who is also a registered nurse, called the initiative "pure politics" and denied that it would make actors safer. Hartley says increased costs and oversight will drive more filming underground.
According to Hartley, actors in the porn industry sometimes have intercourse for 30-60 minutes, and a condom could cause chafing, leading to open sores and a greater risk of transmitting diseases.
The City Council agreed to form a panel drawn from the City Attorney's Office, police and personnel departments and Cal/OSHA to figure out how to enforce the new rule.
The costs for on-set inspections will be offset by an additional permit fee charged to production companies.
A state law already exists requiring the use of "barrier protection" on adult film sets, but is rarely enforced, advocates of the measure say.
AHF is leading an initiative to require the county's Department of Public Health to issue health permits for X-rated productions, similar to those given to restaurants, barbershops and massage parlors.
After the council passed the ordinance Jan. 17, murmurs that porn bosses would take their business outside county lines prompted Simi Valley Mayor Bob Huber to request a similar ordinance be drawn up for his city.
Huber hopes the passing of a comparable condom law will keep the productions from setting up shop in Simi.
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