Measuring Up California’s Measure B

The adult entertainment industry has been in the news recently with the passing of Measure B, the Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act. This new legislation requires actors in pornographic films to wear condoms to prevent the spread of STDs and HIV. There’s been a lot of controversy around this issue which promises to continue, as The Free Speech Coalition- an adult-film-industry trade association- says it will challenge Measure B in court as a violation of the First Amendment. We took a closer look at some of the different perspectives and opinions.

Public health and policy advocates

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a global organization providing HIV/AIDS medical care and advocacy, was one of the most outspoken champions of the measure. Their advocacy website states that passing the Measure will help prevent the spread of STDs and HIV, protect porn performers, and prevent taxpayer dollars from being spent on costs related to the adult industry. Porn producers are now required to obtain health permits and the county will do spot checks on porn sets to make sure performers are using condoms.

Since Measure B’s passing, AHF has expressed interest in taking its effort statewide by advocating for a bill that would broaden the power of the state and local governments to enforce condom use on porn sets. Some have even speculated that that was the main inspiration for Measure B—to gain footing for state legislation, which could, in turn, influence other states to adopt a similar policy.

Emily Nagoski, a sex educator and owner of The Dirty Normal, supports Measure B because it protects adult performers. She writes, “It’s not a right to put yourself in harm’s way for a paycheck, it’s a circumstance created by employers who care more about their bottom line than the safety of their workers.”

Nagoski also supports Measure B because some studies suggest that including condoms in porn will cause viewers to normalize condom use and thus use condoms more in their own sex lives.

 

Adult industry producers and actors

Porn industry leaders say the extra precautions aren’t warranted; L.A. County porn community hasn't had a performer test positive for HIV since 2004. "During that time, we've produced over 300,000 scenes. We do a pretty incredible job when it comes to protecting the performers," said Steve Hirsch, opponent of Measure B and founder of porn production company Vivid Entertainment.  

Performer and director Kylie Ireland said, “It's a ridiculous waste of time and money to regulate an industry that is already self-regulating.”

Measure B has also been criticized because it could be bad for business. Porn producers speculate that customers will not be interested in watching porn featuring actors wearing condoms. With the passing of Measure B, executives and directors have threatened to move from Los Angeles to other locations. Veteran director Kevin Moore said, “I love this business, but I feel this is an attempt to drive us out of California.''

The public

Though there hasn’t been a large-scale survey of the general public surrounding California’s Measure B, 56.8% of voters supported the measure at the polls.

We want to hear what you think. Is Measure B providing a good service, ensuring that adult actors are protected and moving porn toward becoming safer? Or is this unwarranted legislation that will waste money and move the industry elsewhere (or further under the table)?

 Sources

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/porn-industry-measure-mandatory-condom-measure-passed-los/story?id=17673377
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/11/condoms-in-porn-los-angeles-county-measure-b.html
http://healthland.time.com/2012/11/09/porn-industry-threatens-to-sue-over-l-a-county-law-requiring-condoms/

STD's: What's the Real Risk?

Yesterday, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention released an annual report of statistics and trends for three rampant sexually transmitted diseases in the US. For the first time in ten years overall syphilis rates have decreased in the country.  While this is a wonderful step forward for our nation, the CDC still reports ungodly amounts of STDS in the US.  What should come as no surprise is, just like in previous years, communities of color, gay men, and MSM-identified men are still subject to highest rates of infection among the nation’s most prominent STDS. 

Here is a breakdown of where the nation stands with each STD:

Syphilis:

MSM make up 2/3 of all 2010 syphilis rates. Black MSM who have seen a 135% increase in syphilis from 2006-2010, found some alleviation this year with an 8.5 % drop in infections compared to last year. Hispanic communities saw a 9% increase in in syphilis. Caucasian communities saw a 3.65 % increase in syphilis rates.

Gonorrhea and Chlamydia:

The CDC recorded 1.3 million positive case of Chlamydia in 2010. Black women make up the largest numbers of both Gonorrhea and Chlamydia infections. The Hispanic community saw a 12 percent increase in both STDS.  White communities faced a 7.5 percent increase in Chlamydia infections and a 9.2 percent increase in gonorrhea infections. 

These results highlight dichotomy’s that exist across color lines:

Reuters did a telephone interview with Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention. He explained the statistics in way that communicates the spread better.

Syphilis infections are 2.4 per 100,000 for Whites, 5.9 per 100,000 for Hispanics and 20 per 100,000 for African Americans.

Rates of chlamydia in African Americans are about 1,383 per 100,000, compared with 467 per 100,000 among Hispanics, and 166 per 100,000 for Whites.

For gonorrhea, rates for Whites are 26 per 100,000. Among Hispanics, rates are about three times that at 63 per 100,000, and among African Americans, the rates are 512 per 100,000.

Fenton explained the dichotomy’s across color lines as such:

"It's not because someone is black or Hispanic or white that results in the differences that we see in STDs. It's really what these represent in terms of differences in health insurance coverage, employment status, in ability to access preventive services or curative services. These are all factors which are going to have a huge impact on communities”.

What Fenton said hits the bull right in its eye. Barriers to healthcare services exist in Hispanic, black, and queer communities. These findings are very similar to CDC reports released in August on 2009’s new HIV infections—which pinpointed that while gay/bi men make up only 2% of the population, they are an astounding 61% of new infections. Young MSM (ages 13 to 29) were most affected, representing more than 1 in 4 (27%) of all new HIV infections nationally in 2009.

MSM and other community’s that historically have been and continue to be marginalized today, face the heaviest burden for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV alike. But it is not the fact that they are of color, gay, or sleep with men that is causing these disparities; the fact is that access to healthcare, education, and preventive services become limited by societal stigma. The reality is individuals that lie within the intersections of being both queer and of color are at the highest risk for these STDs and new HIV infections.

AID Atlanta is doing its part to alleviate the stigma by providing programs that target specific risk groups. With programs like Evolution, Deeper Love, SISTA SOL, and of course GO Atlanta, we hope to reduce the rates and change the patterns in which these STDS and the HIV virus is spreading. Our new web-based outreach series, A Gay in the Life, allows us to break through some of the barriers associated with accessibility. Programs like the ones found here are hopefully just the beginning of more culturally competent health-care systems and AIDS service organizations.

For a list of all the programs found here at AID Atlanta log on to www.aidatlanta.org

And to watch A Gay in the Life for yourself check out www.getupandgoatlanta.com

STRONGER TOGETHER

We know the old addage that there is safety in numbers, but the reality is that it's true.  For instance, the only way you can REALLY know your partner's HIV status is to be tested together.  Often times we can find testing to be intimidating and awkward.  Wouldn't that situation be made better if your partner was there with you?  Additionally, we can find it hard to have a conversation about our wants/needs surrounding safer sex.  Wouldn't it be easier if you had someone to help you with that conversation?

WELL.....

AID Atlanta is now proud to offer couples testing for gay and bi men.  Testing Together provides an opportunity for you and your partner to have your HIV test together and get your test results together, with a trained counselor present to help you talk about the results. Testing Together and receiving your results together can start an ongoing healthy conversation between you and your partner about HIV in your relationship, and allow you to talk openly about building a protection plan together.

AID Atlanta is excited to be one of the area locations to pilot this program.  You can find out more details here: http://testingtogether.org/ or by visiting AID Atlanta.  If you have a partner, I encourage you to consider getting tested together.  You're always better to know your status - and your partner's too!

GETTING SERIOUS

There are often misconceptions in society that gay/bi men are somehow more promiscuous than their heterosexual counterparts.  Since the inception of HIV/AIDS, it seems that we've had to defend our sex lives, no matter how chaste and committed they may be.  Despite our best efforts, many still believe that the continuation of high numbers of new HIV/AIDS cases in the gay/bi community are directly correlated to promiscuous and risky sexual behaviors.  A new study, however, may finally help to silence that myth.

According to this study, the strongest single predictor of not using condoms in anal sex in a group of young US gay men was that the relationship was regarded as ‘serious’. Unprotected sex was eight times more likely in serious relationships than in casual encounters.

This study, conducted conducted by Northwestern University in Illinois, USA (Mustanski) reinforces previous findings that over two-thirds of HIV transmissions between US gay men happen between primary sex partners and only a third between casual partners (Sullivan).

In this study, the researchers comment, “there was almost no unprotected sex occurring in relationships classified as casual”. This suggests that HIV prevention strategies amongst US gay men may need to focus more on HIV risk and safer-sex negotiation within couples than on individual risk-taking decisions.

The entire article on the report can be read here.  It's important to note that this is ONE study.  However, it could help influence how groups like AID Atlanta target their programming to the community in the future. 

What are your thoughts?

Are you more likely to have unprotected sex in a

relationship you consider serious?

If so, what defines a "serious" relationship?