Day 3: The Free Speech Coalition issued an update on the current industry-wide production hold Friday. The group’s statement is in some ways a non-update, and that is because the performer in question, who is reputed to have not worked often, is reportedly slowing everything down by not cooperating directly. This is the individual’s right, but delaying a resolution when people are unable to work is nonetheless widely viewed as a shitty thing to do.
Please note that there still exists no evidence that the individual, who is now confirmed to be HIV-positive, contracted the virus on set, which means that, contrary to the usual alarmist claims, no one “slipped through” the purported “cracks” in the adult performer testing system. This is the number one question I’ve been asked since the moratorium was announced on Thursday, and the answer (also stated by APAC) remains: at this time no evidence whatsoever exists of any on-set transmission.
It’s also important to remember that a moratorium is demonstrative of a working system, not evidence of failure. The research work, and retesting of performers if necessary, cannot be done with the snap of one’s fingers.
As of right now, the hope is that all they required research work can be completed, and the moratorium can be lifted, on Monday, April 16.
UPDATE: THE MORATORIUM WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MID-WEEK
See Saturday’s statement from FSC-PASS, at bottom
Friday’s FSC statement:
We appreciate everyone’s commitment to the production hold announced [Thursday].
The PASS medical advisors working with the performer have informed us that the initial test result has now been confirmed and that the performer in question is asking for medical privacy. The performer has requested to work and communicate with FSC solely through its PASS medical advisors.
We are currently following established protocols and working with those PASS advisors and production companies to confirm relevant facts, including shoot schedule, testing dates, and any partners. Only once these are confirmed, we will be able to retest all performers who might have had contact during the testing window, on-set or off-set. Until then, we will not have a final date as to when the production hold can be lifted.
We thank the industry for its cooperation. We understand that production holds are difficult for performers, producers and agents alike, but is critical that we protect the safety and well-being of our workers. Production holds like this one have successfully prevented HIV from being transmitted on PASS-regulated adult sets for over fourteen years.
We ask that both the press and those within our community refrain from speculating on or disclosing the identity of the performer. All performers deserve medical privacy and personal compassion — values our community has fought for forcefully over the past several years. Fear, shame and stigma are preventable.
Saturday’s FSC Statement:
The FSC thanks the industry for maintaining the production hold.
PASS medical advisors have not yet been able to reach all first-generation partners, and thus we can not yet lift the production hold.
The performer participated in traditional shoots that employed both condoms and PASS testing for STI prevention. Those partners are still being identified, contacted and retested. We are hopeful that we will be able to identify these partners in the next few days for retesting.
If we are successful, and if those tests return clear, we should be able to lift the production hold mid-week. If we are not, we will need the entire performer pool to be retested in order to re-establish a baseline for safe production.
We understand that production holds are difficult financially for both performers and producers. We are working as efficiently as we can to establish a date at which production can resume safely.
While we do not have reason to believe this case was a result of on-set exposure, the existence of unknowns in regards to first-generation contacts prohibits us from re-establishing the integrity of the performer pool.
We also ask that people remember that production holds include all types of production including clips, cams, content trades, customs and fan-based subscription streaming, where there is sexual contact with another person.
While not traditional productions, these still provide opportunity for exposure. Similarly, we ask that condom-based productions, and productions within different communities that may utilize other prevention tools continue to observe these production holds.
We understand that many are eager to return to work. We promise to inform the community throughout this process and will provide a clearer estimate of the date work as soon as we can.
3 Responses
Great article. Thank you.
High five!
Sounds like someone from the gay side of the business.