California worker safety officials clashed with adult film stars and industry lawyers yesterday over the state’s proposal for stricter regulations on-screen sex, including a mandate for condoms in porn.
The California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (CAL/OSHA) held a public hearing regarding tentative rules that would require “use of condoms or other barrier protection to prevent genital and oral contact with the blood or (any other bodily fluids) of another person.” The rules didn’t go over well with the adult industry. Many performers and executives said tougher regulations would simply drive the multi-billion dollar industry out of state or underground, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. And they said the state's ideas for better protections on set were simply impractical—“It's at the point where we feel we'll be working in hazmat suits,” said adult performer Ela Darling.
Sexis’ own Nina Hartley spoke, saying the state's proposals were biased and that officials didn't consider performers' input before constructing the standards. Others agreed, saying such standards weren't in place for boxers, for an example, who are exposed to blood, sweat, and saliva when training or in the ring.
“I detect sex-worker bias,” Hartley said. “We are a minority within a minority and no one wants to ask us how we would feel safe.”
Hartley says she's a feminist who's been working in adult entertainment for 27 years, and she worries what the effects of a condom mandate will be on women. Hartley said it could force "a young, rebellious group of people who already works in the margins" to work more secretively.
"And the more underground you push something, the more dangerous it is," Hartley said. "That's bad for women, bad for health, bad for everyone."
A draft of additional regulations won't likely be drawn up until the end of the year, according to a CAL/OSHA safety engineer.
The California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (CAL/OSHA) held a public hearing regarding tentative rules that would require “use of condoms or other barrier protection to prevent genital and oral contact with the blood or (any other bodily fluids) of another person.” The rules didn’t go over well with the adult industry. Many performers and executives said tougher regulations would simply drive the multi-billion dollar industry out of state or underground, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. And they said the state's ideas for better protections on set were simply impractical—“It's at the point where we feel we'll be working in hazmat suits,” said adult performer Ela Darling.
Sexis’ own Nina Hartley spoke, saying the state's proposals were biased and that officials didn't consider performers' input before constructing the standards. Others agreed, saying such standards weren't in place for boxers, for an example, who are exposed to blood, sweat, and saliva when training or in the ring.
“I detect sex-worker bias,” Hartley said. “We are a minority within a minority and no one wants to ask us how we would feel safe.”
Hartley says she's a feminist who's been working in adult entertainment for 27 years, and she worries what the effects of a condom mandate will be on women. Hartley said it could force "a young, rebellious group of people who already works in the margins" to work more secretively.
"And the more underground you push something, the more dangerous it is," Hartley said. "That's bad for women, bad for health, bad for everyone."
A draft of additional regulations won't likely be drawn up until the end of the year, according to a CAL/OSHA safety engineer.