California: Porn Firms Faulted for Not Aiding HIV Probe

Pornographic film producers in California were uncooperative in assisting a recent HIV contact investigation involving an adult-film performer, a new report reveals. Los Angeles County public health officials undertook the investigation to quickly identify those infected and prevent onward HIV transmission; instead, barriers slowed its progress.

"Limited cooperation from many adult-film industry companies restricted this contact investigation. Rarely did industry legal counsel give information for investigation," Francisco Meza, a physician with CDC, wrote in a report analyzing the 2010 HIV scare. The case led local porn producers to temporarily shut down productions.

On Oct. 6, performer Derrick Burts tested HIV-positive at an adult-film industry-supported clinic that regularly screens performers for STDs. Considering his previous negative tests, health officials concluded Burts likely was infected between mid-August and mid-September. He had performed with two men he later learned had HIV; one was not being treated.

Of Burts' 16 sex partners two months prior to the HIV-positive diagnosis -- six men and 10 women -- 15 were industry performers, the report says. Following customary practice, Burts used condoms during scenes involving anal sex with male partners, but not during vaginal or oral sex scenes. Since his disclosure, Burts has advocated expanded condom use on porn sets.

Two key barriers to the county health investigation were the adult-film companies' refusal to cooperate and the performers' use of pseudonyms, the report says. Health officials were able to contact just five of the 16 partners, and all refused to cooperate with the investigation. Under federal law, porn producers must keep performers' real names on file to prove they are not minors.

The report urges the companies to give health officials the names of relevant actors and use condoms during the filming of any sex act.

Adult-film companies "should not be in a position where they can debate giving this information" to health officials, said Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

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