Dennis RomeroA performer who set off the latest HIV scare in adult film has turned against his employers and is speaking out against the adult video industry and its resistance to mandatory condom use.
Derrick Burts teamed up with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which unleashed his tale Tuesday night via the Los Angeles Times. He tested positive for HIV in October, setting off the latest debate over condoms in porn.
Interestingly, while the porn industry claims its self-policing when it comes to STDs, Burts says he contracted the virus from a male actor who had not presented his test before a film shoot – a move the industry has argued is customary and part of its health-guards.
In fact, the actor says his HIV-carrying scene partner was a “known positive.” How could this happen? In gay porn, condoms are the norm, but HIV testing of the type advocated by the Adult Healthcare Industry Foundation, the organization that tested Burts and provides a testing service the whole adult video business, is apparently not.
Burts at Wednesday's press conference.; Credit: Ted Soqui for LA Weekly
His gay scene in Florida involved oral sex – a long shot for HIV transmission. But that's his story, and it doesn't add up if you ask us. He's a mostly straight guy who's loyal to his girlfriend but had protected gay sex and still somehow came up with HIV?
AIM Healthcare's claim that he got HIV through his own extracurricular, off-camera sex life is B.S., he says: He only has off-camera sex with his girlfriend. (He says she turned up negative, too).
Really?
AHF stated that Burts also contracted herpes and chlamydia during his “brief” work in porn.
Burts says the industry-backed AIM turned its back on him, allegedly ignoring its promise to follow up with treatment. That, he claims, pushed him into the accepting arms of the AIM's archenemy, the AHF, which has been battling to force adult video to use condoms.
According to a statement from AHF:
Burts then anonymously sought medical treatment for his HIV through AHF, which arranged a medical appointment for him within 24 hours of his first contact with AHF at one of its Los Angeles-area AHF Healthcare Centers–without anyone at AHF knowing his role in the adult film industry.
AHF scheduled a news conference for 10 a.m. Wednesday at its office in Hollywood to discuss Burts' case.
AHF President Michael Weinstein:
“We are extremely glad to know that Derrick has been linked to care and is receiving appropriate medical care for his HIV infection through AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a government-funded non-profit health care provider. However, we are astounded that the multi-billion dollar adult film industry and its fig leaf of a clinic could not even get it together six weeks after his first positive HIV test to link him to appropriate follow up medical care and treatment, and that taxpayers–rather than the adult film industry–will be left holding the bill.”
The group has used the HIV scare to bring attention to its mission to bring more condoms to porn. As we reported previously, the state already essentially requires condoms in porn. But enforcement is about as as strict as New York police when it comes to jaywalking.
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