A U.S. adult film star has been diagnosed with HIV leading to a voluntary moratorium. This is the third shut down the industry has had since 2013 and the first reported case of 2014.
The performer is undergoing additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.
The Free Speech Coalition called for a moratorium on Thursday as an extra precaution. Although these moratoriums are not binding, the industry is usually compliant with them.
A moratorium is called when someone in the pornography industry tests positive for HIV and has worked with anyone for the two weeks since the last negative HIV test. A moratorium involves a temporary stop in filming.
"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," said Diane Duke, executive director of Free Speech Coalition.
In 2013, at least three adult film actors tested positive for HIV, and since then, the Free Speech Coalition has required performers to be tested for STDs once every 14 days.
This announcement was two weeks after a bill was killed in California that would have required that adult film actors use condoms on set.
The Free Speech Coalition argued against the bill saying that it would move jobs out of the state and underground making it more dangerous for the performers.
Los Angeles County has required that performers use condoms on set since 2012, and according to the Los Angeles Times, X-rated production permits have dropped by 90 percent.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which fought for the bill requiring actors in Los Angeles County be required to wear condoms, says the announcement is a "tragic" repeat of last year's cases and is more evidence that statewide action needs to be taken to require actors wear condoms.
The name and details of the performer who tested positive for HIV have not been released.
Last year, there was a halt in production after actress Cameron Bay tested positive. Her boyfriend and fellow adult film actor Rod Daily also announced that he had tested positive.
The second halt last year occurred when a third performer tested positive. It was after this case that the Free Speech Coalition changed the mandated STD testing from once every 28 days to once every 14 days.
Critics argue that the only reliable way to prevent the transmission of HIV is to mandate condom use on the set.
