YNOT – Adult industry trade association Free Speech Coalition on Wednesday took aim at AIDS Healthcare Foundation, calling the mainstream HIV-AIDS charity’s comments during a press conference “completely false,” “appallingly irresponsible” and inflammatory.
The press conference, called by AHF President Michael Weinstein to announce the filing of official complaints against an adult studio in connection with a rumored positive HIV test in Florida, began at 2 p.m. ET Wednesday. During the teleconference, Weinstein revealed his Los Angeles-based organization has contacted both the Florida Department of Health and federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials, insisting the agencies investigate Brazzers for employing an HIV-positive male performer during a condom-free shoot in Florida. In addition, AHF wants the agencies to look into allegations that FSC obstructed a medical investigation into possible HIV exposure within the adult industry launched by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
“In response to the latest reported HIV case in the adult film industry — thought to be the 23rd industry-related HIV case since 2004 — AIDS Healthcare Foundation … [has filed] a ’sanitary nuisance’ health complaint (PDF) with the Florida Department of Health and a similar letter of complaint with federal OSHA officials (PDF) against Brazzers, the adult film production company widely reported as the company where the infected performer was allegedly employed,” an AHF statement noted. “Industry sources say the male performer involved had worked directly — and without condoms — with as many as a dozen female performers.”
It is important to note that both complaints are based upon scuttlebutt arising in Florida, not documented medical reports, FSC Executive Director Diane Duke said.
“FSC would like to make clear that this accusation is completely false and that it is appallingly irresponsible for AHF to accuse any adult industry members of wrongdoing without any basis in actual fact,” Duke said Wednesday afternoon. “Official statements made today by AHF President Michael Weinstein at an AHF press conference are false and seemingly based on rumor and innuendo gathered from unreliable sources.”
Weinstein’s remarks also targeted FSC.
“In addition, we are calling on the Free Speech Coalition, the adult industry-sponsored advocacy group, to stop obstructing the investigation of this incident in Los Angeles County and provide all of the necessary information to public health authorities,” he said. “FSC is an advocacy group. They are not authorized to do health investigations, and they are not qualified. The pattern of non-cooperation that has characterized the industry and led to the current situation is continuing.
“It is the responsibility of Los Angeles County, which has not issued any statement to this point, to demand cooperation from the adult industry,” Weinstein added. “Even though the initial exposure took place in Florida, the shutdown in LA [a voluntary moratorium on shooting — Ed.] constitutes a major public health event under the law. We are also reaffirming our call on the City of Los Angeles to stop issuing new [adult filming] permits.”
FSC has not been contacted by the LA County health department, out-of-state health officials or AHF, Duke said.
“This is another prime example of AHF and its president Michael Weinstein’s outrageous grandstanding, which is completely false and baseless,” she said. “AHF has a history of spreading misinformation in order to further their agenda to force government regulation of sexual behavior. Apparently, Mr. Weinstein will stop at nothing, including spreading false information, in order to call attention to AHF’s agenda.
“To FSC’s knowledge, there is no investigation being conducted by [the LA County health department] at this time,” Duke continued. “It is impossible for FSC to obstruct an investigation that evidently does not exist. In the event that FSC were to be contacted by authorities from [LA County] or elsewhere, it would endeavor to cooperate fully while still protecting the rights of any individuals to medical privacy.”
FSC maintains AHF and Weinstein have embarked upon a crusade to force condom usage on all adult production sets. In truth, Weinstein frequently issues impassioned pleas for government intervention in the adult film industry, especially in Los Angeles. The Florida complaints represent an expansion of the organization’s agenda.
“This latest outbreak underscores the urgent need for immediate action by government to stop this occupational health hazard from continuing,” Weinstein said Wednesday. “The claim that HIV testing is an adequate substitute for condom use has once again been proven false. The question remains: How many performers must become infected with HIV and other serious [sexually transmitted diseases] before the industry will clean up its act and government will do the right thing?
“This outrageous disregard for the health and safety of the performers and the community at large is a shameful blot on the reputation of Los Angeles,” he added. “We call for immediate action by the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County. The temporary moratorium on filming should become a permanent one until condoms are mandatory. We request an immediate ‘cease and desist’ order be issued by the county as a public health protection and that all permits for adult films be cancelled by the city until these productions certify that they are using condoms in the production of porn.”
While not shocked by AHF’s Wednesday action, Duke said it does not speak well for AHF or Weinstein that the organization has filed official complaints based on rumors and supposition. FSC’s new Adult Performers Health & Safety Services division is working within legally mandated channels to obtain facts about the potential case, but as yet has not been able to confirm or deny the rumors.
“It should be made clear that at this time FSC does not have authorized information confirming that a performer or any performers have tested positive for HIV,” Duke said Wednesday. “However, after reports received on Saturday were corroborated by various sources, there was enough serious concern regarding the possible infection for FSC to call for a moratorium on production.
“It also should be noted that the possible infection took place outside of California, and there is nothing to suggest that the Los Angeles adult production industry has been affected by any possible infections,” she continued. “However, adult production companies in Los Angeles have voluntarily agreed to the moratorium in order to eliminate the potential for exposure.”
FSC is consulting its attorneys regarding tendering a demand for a public retraction of AHF’s allegations.
