City Council Issues Safe Sex or No Permit Motion

We knew we were speaking too soon. Not to be alarmist, but the face of porn may be about to change forever. Four Los Angeles council members are backing a motion that ultimately seeks the denial of permits to any porn company that doesn’t practice safe sex. Permits, if the motion succeeds, will contain safety requirements for “shields” to prevent “contact with potentially infectious material,” i.e., condoms, dental dams, face shields, goggles, etc.

The motion was proposed by Bill Rosendahl and seconded by members Ed Reyes, Paul Koretz and Eric Garcetti and reads as follows:

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has documented widespread transmission of sexually transmitted diseases associated with the activities of the adult film industry within the City of Los Angeles.

The producers of all films within the City of Los Angeles, including adult films, are required to obtain permits issued by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and administered by FilmL.A., Inc. under certain contracts between FilmL.A., Inc. and the City of Los Angeles. Such permits for film production within the City of Los Angeles may include conditions to protect public safety and health.

The producers of adult films are required by California Code of Regulations Title 8, Section 5903 et seq. to employ barrier protection, including without limitation condoms, to shield performers from contact with potentially infectious material during the production of adult films.

I THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council request the City Attorney to report back within 45 days to explain the mechanisms necessary to enable the City’s film permit process to require workplace safety in the production of all adult films.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) president Michael Weinstein applauded the motion, noting this is “absolutely the responsible thing to do” and suggesting the adult entertainment industry believes it is above the law. AVN has also reported that two of the four City Council members who put the motion in place have received contributions from Weinstein:

District 11 Councilmember William “Bill” Rosendahl has received $1,000 in campaign contributions from Weinstein personally: $500 in 2004, when Rosendahl was first running for City Council, and two further contributions of $250 each in the spring of 2005 to Rosendahl’s general campaign fund.

In addition, Weinstein also contributed a total of $600 to District 5 Councilmember Paul Koretz: $500 in January of 2009, two months before Koretz, who had “termed out” as a state assemblymember, stood for his first election to City Council in March of 2009, and $100 one month after Koretz’s election.

If this is true, it is cheaper to buy a council member for a term than an hour with a porn doll.

All quips aside, the City Attorney has 45 days to make a report as stated in the motion and offer recommendations. We’ll keep you posted.