Initially, upon reading the story about a California judge rejecting a petition by an AIDS advocacy group to mandate professional pornography studios to use condoms, I was greatly distressed. (Read the story for yourself.)
As a proponent of mandatory condom use for anyone in any profession who is not in a sexually monogamous relationship, I felt like the judge was not valuing the health and well-being of the participants in those movies. Part of freedom is the right to be an idiot and do stupid things, so as an individual you want to engage in self-destructive behavior then you have every right to do so. However, if I make money off you engaging in self-destructive behavior and provide the environment and encourage (in some cases, coerce through greater monetary reward) such behavior then I have a responsibility to limit your risk.
Some online statistics, that I have not verified, state the following:
"The pornography industry brings in more revenue than the combined revenue of all professional football, baseball and basketball franchises. US pornography revenue exceeds the combined revenues of television networks ABC, CBS, and NBC (6.2 billion), and child pornography generates $3 billion annually."
I felt that for all the money being made, the least that could be done would be to protect the well-being of the actors and actresses. The average career length of an actress in pornography is 18 months, at least that was the number in 2005. Eighteen months of work should not be allowed to have such an adverse effect on one's health for life.
All of this was before I read the whole story. I knew that the Adult Industry Medical (AIM) Healthcare Foundation requires industry-wide testing of performers every 30 days. I knew that gay porn has even more stringent self-imposed standards. I think condoms should be required but like many things involving the legal system, the actual petition may not be the best course of action. The AIDS advocacy group did not sue the studios, they sued LA county for not enforcing a statute that may or may not actually be able to be enforced in that way. I do like that the group has vowed not to give up and will try to work both inside and outside the industry to achieve their goal.
I recall from reading a book containing interviews with actors and actresses in porn that they believe that the public does not want to see condom use. I remember reading some other survey or something that supports that claim. I believe that the consumer would still buy the product though. According to industry reports, the top selling company requires condom use and has gained in market share so it would seem that any business would want to protect its money makers.
I liken the way our society treats pornographic actresses and actors to how we treat football players. Tons of people watch both and want to share in their exploits but at the same time feel that they are smarter, more valuable, or of higher character than the performers. Part of this may be due to the fact that both porn performers and football players are valued for their physical prowess and abilities as opposed to their mental abilities. However, most of us are not valued for our mental abilities. Very few of us get paid to think without the expectation of a tangible end product. In most cases, the end product requires some physical exertion whether it be typing or running. Professors have to publish or parish, data processors have to convert and release studies, bakers have to have tasty baked goods, and doctors have to cure and/or treat illnesses. Even clerics have to show that their flock is progressing and that the houses of worship are sustainable.
This is not a nice well thought group of conclusions but here they are:
1) Condoms should be used in pornography. They now make clear latex condoms and I am pretty sure the average viewer will not be greatly turned off by their presence.
2) The state of porn has already changed with the advent of consumer available HD-recording and the internet. An increase of images of people of all types engaging in sex, particularly in committed loving relationships might be the next big market and would probably do our society some good.
3) I either need a new hobby or become a porn activist or lobbyist.
4) If you make a video you having sex with someone and someone breaks into your house and steals it. The shame should go to the thief not the people who made the video. The two people made the video so they could watch themselves, the thief stole and put in on the web.
If anyone reads this and has more opinions, I would love to hear them because I am still working on this.
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