Porn studio owner accuses group of creating 'hysteria around HIV'

published on September 18, 2013 in LA Times

The owner of a porn studio involved in allegations that it puts actors at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases accused the AIDS Healthcare Foundation of playing "loose with the facts" to "generate hysteria around HIV."

The statement from Peter Acworth, owner of San Francisco-based Kink.com, came after a Hollywood news conference Wednesday, during which several current and former adult film performers who have tested positive for HIV spoke out about working conditions in the industry.

The news conference was convened by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which has pushed for legislation to require condom use on all adult film sets. The adult film industry has shut down twice in the last month as a result of performers' HIV-positive test results -- a development the foundation has used to tout legislation requiring condoms on porn sets statewide.

The group backed a similar countywide measure that was passed by voters last year -- currently the subject of a lawsuit -- but a state bill written by Assemblyman Isadore Hall (D-Compton) died in committee in the legislative session that ended last week.

Industry representatives have insisted that the three performers who tested positive -- including Cameron Bay, her real-life boyfriend, Rod Daily, and a third performer who has not been publicly identified -- did not contract the infection on set and that frequent STD testing protocols are working.

Abby Sewell
LA Times
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Porn studio owner accuses group of creating 'hysteria around HIV'

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