Los AngelesCalifornia ElectionsFree Speech CoalitionVideo

Measure B: Condoms In Porn On The Ballot

This Year's 'Only-In-LA' Ballot Measure
Los Angeles Daily News
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In an only-in-L.A. moment, Los Angeles County voters will decide on Election Day if adult-film actors should wear condoms while shooting pornographic scenes.

Known as the Safer Sex Initiative, Measure B would not only mandate the use of condoms in porn films but require the Los Angeles Department of Public Health to lead inspections and enforcement efforts.

Technically, condom use on porn sites already is required under state and city law, but the current statutes are not enforced.

The measure also requires producers to obtain a public health permit after completing training on blood-borne pathogens and submitting an exposure control plan.

Fees charged for the permits would be used to pay for enforcement.

Michael Weinstein, executive director of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and primary proponent of Measure B, has said requiring condoms on adult-film production sites promotes public health and safety.

"If it passes, it's going to reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in our community at no cost to taxpayers," Weinstein said. "Right now, since these performers are not (medically)insured, most of the costs fall on the public."

If Measure B fails, it's still a law in California, but there still won't be much enforcement.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation has contributed $1.6 million to back the measure as of the end of September, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's

office.

The measure is supported by the Los Angeles County Medical Association and other health organizations, Weinstein has said.

But opponents say Measure B would force thousands of jobs out of the San Fernando Valley, where the adult-film industry has been based since the 1970s.

The Valley Industry and Commerce Association has sided with the adult-film industry in its opposition to Measure B. Opponents say taxpayers will foot the bill to pay for enforcement, and the industry could leave California.

"If Measure B passes, the most immediate impact will be adult production companies relocating out of the state and with them 10,000 jobs and over $1 billion in local tax revenue and economic activity," said James Lee, spokesman for No on Government Waste, which opposes Measure B.

"Voters will also be stuck with an unworkable government permitting system costing them hundreds of thousands of tax dollars for new inspectors paid to hang around porn sets all day, while many smaller adult productions will simply evade the permitting system resulting in the need for government to come up with another new system of enforcement."

Lee added, "None of which will make public health better or improve what is already one of the most stringent comprehensive testing systems in place for adult performers."

The Canoga Park-based Free Speech Coalition, which represents the adult-film industry, also opposes Measure B, saying that a program that allows adult-film performers to test for HIV, gonorrhea and chlamydia every 28 days or more often has been the industry's best deterrent. If condoms are used, that testing may stop, the group has said.

The No on Government Waste campaign had raised almost $120,000 as of the end of September, which included $10,000 from Larry Flynt's Flynt Management Group and $75,000 from Manwin USA, an adult-video sharing website, according to the county's Registrar-Recorder's Office.

Besides VICA, at least 15 chambers of commerce from the San Gabriel Valley also side with the adult-film industry's opposition to Measure B.

susan.abram@dailynews.com 818-713-3664 twitter.com/sabramla ___

(c)2012 the Daily News (Los Angeles)

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Before You Go

California 2012 Propositions
Prop 30: Gov. Jerry Brown's Tax Initiative(01 of11)
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YES vote: There will be an increase in state income taxes on the wealthy (those who make over $250,000) for seven years. Sales taxes will increase by ¼ cent for four years. Its passage will stave off $6 billion in automatic “trigger cuts” -- mainly to K-12 schools and state universities -- that Gov. Jerry Brown wrote into the 2012-2013 budget. NO vote: State income taxes and sales taxes are not increased, and California's education budget will be gutted in accordance with Brown's "trigger cut" budget.California Gov. Jerry Brown joins students at a rally promoting Prop. 30 in the upcoming election in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012. Prop 30 would raise taxes, directing the money toward education. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) (credit:AP)
Prop 31: Two-Year Budget Cycle(02 of11)
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YES vote: All bills will be made public at least three days before coming to a vote before the legislature, lengthen the state's budgeting cycle from one to two years, mandate the identification of funding sources for all new programs costing over $25 million and allow local governments to create "regional collaboration" bodies possessing the ability to supersede state laws. NO vote: There will be no change to the California legislature and governor's fiscal responsibilities. (credit:Alamy)
Prop 32: Ban On Corporate & Union Contributions(03 of11)
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YES vote: Unions and corporations cannot use money automatically deducted from employee checks for political donations.NO vote: There will be no change to the laws that currently allow unions and corporations to use money automatically deducted from their employees' pay checks for political purposes. (credit:AP)
Prop 33: Auto Insurance Histories(04 of11)
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YES vote: Auto insurance companies will take into account a customer's car insurance history, even if it spans different companies.NO vote: Auto insurance companies will continue to be prohibited from giving customers discounts based on their histories with other companies. (credit:Alamy)
Prop 34: Repeal Of The Death Penalty(05 of11)
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YES vote: The death penalty will end in California.NO vote: California's death penalty sentence remains intact. (credit:Alamy)
Prop 35: Human Trafficking Penalties(06 of11)
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YES vote: Prosecutors will be able to seek harsher penalties (fines and prison sentences) for convicted human traffickers.NO vote: The laws currently in place about sentencing convicted human traffickers will remain intact. (credit:Alamy)
Prop 36: Repeal Of The 'Three Strikes' Law(07 of11)
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YES vote: Convicts with two prior convictions who commit a third, nonserious or non-violent crime will not be sentenced to life in prison. Those who are currently in jail with a life sentence for a nonserious or non-violent crime could be given shorter prison sentences.NO vote: California's "Three Strikes Law," in which felons could receive life imprisonment for their third conviction, remains intact. Those already in jail for their third felony will remain. (credit:Alamy)
Prop 37: GMO Labeling(08 of11)
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YES vote: Companies will be required to put labels on all food with GMOs (genetically modified organisms). NO vote: Genetically engineered foods will continue to remain unlabeled. (credit:Alamy)
Prop 38: Molly Munger's Tax Initiative(09 of11)
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YES vote: All Californians will have a higher rates of personal income taxes, the revenues of which get routed to local K-12 schools and early childhood programs.NO vote: Californians continue with their current personal state income tax rates. Schools get no extra money.Molly Munger, a wealthy attorney and civil rights advocate, listens to a reporters question regarding her proposed ballot initiative to raise income taxes for school funding following her appearance at the California Parent Teacher Association's annual meeting in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Feb. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (credit:AP)
Prop 39: Income Tax Increases For Multistate Businesses(10 of11)
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YES vote: All businesses will be forced to calculate their taxes based exclusively on in-state sales. NO vote: Businesses will continue to choose whether to calculate their state taxes based on either the sales they make in the state or a combination of sales, property and employees in the state. (credit:AP)
Prop 40: Referendum On State Senate Redistricting Plan(11 of11)
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YES vote: California will continue to use the new Senate district boundaries that were drawn and certified by the Citizens Redistricting Commission in 2011. NO vote: The California Supreme Court will appoint a special master to determine new state senate districts. (credit:Alamy)
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