California workplace safety officials have voted against requiring porn actors to cover up with condoms to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted disease (STD). The vote came after the AIDS Healthcare Foundation persuaded the board to impose stricter workplace safety rules in the porn industry.
Julia Bernstein, spokesperson for California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health's Standards (Cal/OSHA), told Fox News that the proposal to require porn actors to use condoms was rejected last Thursday, after only three members of the board voted in favor. The passage of the measure would require four votes.
Bernstein added that Cal/OSHA will now begin considering a new worker safety measure for the porn industry. Presently, adult film performers are required to be tested for STDs once every two weeks.
The proposal has been strongly opposed by porn actors, directors, and producers. Porn actress SiouxsieQ, who spoke before the board in the public hearing, reasoned out that the use of condoms is a turn-off to their audiences.
"All of us are here for the same reason. We want to keep California workers safe. But adopting regulations specifically requiring the use of condoms and other safety measures that audiences don't like would only keep people from watching films and destroy a multibillion-dollar business that employs thousands," SiouxsieQ pointed out.
According to BBC News, some porn industry representatives also argued that requiring actors to wear condoms would drive the industry to go underground, making it more dangerous for performers. They also added that the requirement would mean an end of many porn film scenes.
Ged Kenslea, AIDS Healthcare Foundation spokesman, said they are disappointed that the board rejected the proposal. However, he added they are impressed that the porn representatives acknowledged the need for some sort of regulation. He stated that they are interested in working with them to achieve the goal.
