Pressure Increases to Continue Adult Film Moratorium

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The adult film industry remained under a production moratorium Thursday after one performer tested positive for HIV.

The Free Speech Coalition, an industry trade group in Canoga Park, called for the moratorium on Wednesday following the test results. The group is working to contact and treat performers who might have been exposed, though the group said there was no indication the infection had been contracted on a set.

A doctor affiliated with the Adult Production Health & Safety Services, the trade group’s disease-control program, is handling the case. The performer has not been identified.

The moratorium comes amidst a legal battle over whether porn performers should wear condoms. Measure B, which requires that adult films get permits from the county health department and performers wear condoms, was passed by voters in November.

The measure was sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation of West Hollywood and opposed by the Free Speech Coalition and production companies. A lawsuit was filed by Vivid Entertainment LLC, a Los Angeles production company, and two performers to overturn the law.

Last week, a judge hearing the case determined that spontaneous searches to enforce Measure B were unconstitutional, but ruled that adult productions must get no-cost permits from the county, adult performers must use condoms and criminal charges can be brought against violators.