Measure B. This new LA County initiative will mandate that all pornographic performers in California use condoms on the set.
For obvious reasons, the porn industry as a whole is against the bill. To pass this bill would mean the industry leaving California because porn fans don’t want to see condoms in their movies.
Ironically, California employee-safety laws already require condoms on adult film sets, but enforcement is weak. Measure B would require porn producers to obtain public health permits (much like tattoo parlors currently do) that could then be revoked if inspectors find that porn sets are not using condoms.
Why vote no? Measure B opponents don’t want to see thousands of porn performers out of a job. They believe this is over-legislation. They believe it is an infringement of free speech rights. Others feel porn stars should use condoms, but they think a law will be an ineffective way to make it happen.
Why vote yes? Measure B supporters say public health is a major concern. If a higher percentage of porn stars have STDs, infection could spread to the general population. The L.A.-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation is also concerned about the health of porn stars themselves. They argue similar legislation would be needed if construction companies were defiantly telling their employees not to wear hard hats.
What do you think?
