Dennis RomeroThe porn industry has lost a few battles in the last year or so. It faces mandatory condoms on-set in both the city and county of Los Angeles, for the most part. And when bareback production apparently tried to invade Ventura County, the government there also said prophylactics would be the law.
So you can't blame the biz, long resistant to such rules, for being a little bit giddy today: A state legislative committee blocked a law that would have made condoms in porn mandatory across California:
Area legislator Isadore Hall's proposal was voted down today in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, essentially killing the bill, at least for this year.
Diane Duke, CEO of the porn industry lobbying group known as the Free Speech Coalition, had this to say:
We are grateful that lawmakers have chosen the best interest of California's taxpayers and the adult industry over AB 332's misguided legislation. The adult industry creates a tremendous amount of revenue and jobs for California. We have effective, successful standards in place to protect performers. This ridiculous bill was a solution without a problem.
Credit: Nate 'Igor' Smith for LA Weekly
The industry mounted a so-far unsuccessful court challenge of L.A. County's condom law, arguing that it violates constitutional free speech by dictating the content of its fare.
The business has long said that consumers don't want to see condoms in porn and that its monthly STD testing of performers works.
The L.A.-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation, largely responsible for proposed condom law and for the local and county rules, says sex workers deserve the same protection under the law that the rest of America's employees get — namely safety from blood-bourne pathogens.
See also: Porn Defends the Money Shot.
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