U.S. porn film advocacy group, Free Speech Coalition (FSC), has called for a halt on the production of porn films as an actor has recently tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
On Thursday, Aug. 28, the FSC called for a moratorium and confirmed that the unnamed actor has been reported likely positive for HIV in a test conducted at one of its testing facilities. FSC reveals that it is performing further tests on the actor and as a precautionary measure, has issued a suspension on production of all porn films.
Diane Duke, CEO of FSC, says that the agency wants to ensure that other performers are protected against HIV. FSC has also hinted that other performers who were in sexual contact with the reported possible HIV positive actor may also have to undergo tests.
"We take the health of our performers very seriously and felt that it was better to err on the side of caution while we determine whether anyone else may have been exposed," says Duke. "We want to make sure all performers are protected. The performers' health and safety is the most important thing."
This is the first report of a possible HIV positive test in 2014; however, this is not the first time that FSC has issued a moratorium for porn film production nationwide. In summer 2013, the FSC called for a stoppage on porn film production for around a week after an actress was tested HIV positive. The actress' boyfriend, an adult film performer, later announced that he also tested positive for HIV.
Similarly, in Sept. 2013, porn filming came to a halt after a performer was tested positive for HIV. However, the industry started filming again after a rule came into effect that performers have to be tested every 14 days rather than every 28 days per previous rules.
In 2012, a Los Angeles non-profit organization, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), was successful in getting a bill passed that requires an adult industry performer to use a condom during filming. Under the law, studios that film porn films without the performers using a condom can face civil charges, but it has never been imposed.
Porn studios will now have to wait until FSC announces a lift on the latest moratorium.
