Porn industry to lift HIV-related moratorium on filming

LOS ANGELESAn adult film trade group will lift its second production moratorium of the past month, claiming that a recent HIV scare has passed.

The Free Speech Coalition announced that the two-week moratorium will end Friday.

The halting of production of adult films was first announced Aug. 22 following a positive HIV test of a performer who later identified herself as Cameron Bay. Production resumed five days later.

Soon after, pornographic actor Rod Daily, who had been romantically linked with Bay, admitted Sept. 4 on Twitter that he had also contracted HIV. A third positive test on an unidentified actor who did not work with Bay or Daily was then reported, leading to another moratorium. Sept. 19 marks two weeks since that positive test, the Free Speech Coalition said in a statement.

Last week, a fourth actor reportedly told the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, an advocacy group that supports legislation for requiring condoms in porn, that he or she tested positive for HIV.

The coalition denied at the time a fourth case occurred.

The coalition also said Monday it will require more frequent testing of actors for sexually transmitted diseases -- every 14 days instead of the previous schedule of 28 days.

"Our industry protocols are designed to be conservative and our doctors support a conservative approach, for the health and well-being of the performers," said Diane Duke, the coalition's CEO.

Critics of the industry have said producers are not protecting performers. The industry has challenged a law passed last year by Los Angeles County votersthat required actors to wear condoms during shoots.

In its statement, the coalition promised to increase its safety protocols.

"We can do more to help our performers learn how to protect themselves, on screen and off," Duke said.

A similar moratorium was enacted last year after nearly a dozen performers were infected with syphilis, and in 2004, when actor Derrick Burts' received a positive HIV test. Burts later became an advocate for condoms in pornography.