Moratorium sought on adult film shooting after new HIV case

A trade association representing the adult film industry called for a nationwide moratorium on shooting Friday -- the second in the last month -- after another performer tested positive for HIV.

The Free Speech Coalition called a weeklong moratorium last month after performer Cameron Bay tested positive for HIV. The moratorium was lifted a week later after her on-screen partners tested negative.

On Tuesday, a second adult film actor, who is romantically linked to Bay, told the Los Angeles Daily News that he, too, had tested positive for HIV after announcing his status on Twitter. The actor, who goes by the screen name Rod Daily, told the publication that he had gotten tested at a private facility in Arizona.

The industry coalition initially said that it had not been officially notified of those test results, and did not immediately call another moratorium.

It was not immediately clear whether the case that resulted in the moratorium called Friday was a third case, or whether the coalition had been notified of Daily’s test results. A spokeswoman said the coalition would not release further details at this time.

[Updated at 6:17 p.m.: The Free Speech Coalition said in a statement that the performer whose case prompted the current moratorium had not done a shoot since before the first moratorium. The industry required performers whose last STD test was prior to Aug. 19 to re-test if they wanted to continue performing. The coalition said it would cover the cost of retesting for the performer’s partners.

“While we don’t have evidence to suggest an on set transmission as opposed to a transmission from non-industry (off-camera) related activity, we are taking every measure to determine the source and to protect the performer pool,” the coalition said in the statement].

The HIV cases have added fuel to a push for a statewide mandate for condom use in adult films. Los Angeles County voters approved a similar mandate last year, which is the subject of an ongoing court battle.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, an advocacy group pushing for the statewide condom rule, launched a robocall campaign Thursday against Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles), who they accused of halting the legislation. Gatto denied that he was holding the bill back.

The group took another shot at Gatto in the wake of Friday’s announcement.

“We lay complete blame for this outbreak at the feet of Assembly member Gatto, the pornographers and Los Angeles County,” Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation said in a statement. “How many more before we act?”

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