Drug testing for things that are often mainlined is something the industry could use. Would you have your own daughter nail a guy that took a drug test and does opiates on occasion? How do you know that the previous night he didn’t load it into a vein with a needle given to him by Steven Tyler? What, make him wear a condom and all fears are squashed?

I believe in business, but I’m also a humanitarian. I would personally slaughter every silverback gorilla and club every seal to save the life of one ex junky performer with HIV. Humans are not to be discarded. Ever.

@CPan, to make testing mandatory would require an act of legislation. OSHA does not have the authority to mandate testing. What is needed is a system similar to the State Athletic Commision, but again, that requires that the state legislature pass applicable laws. There are some occupations that require certain health standards, but all of those are clearly identified in state LAW. The California legislature has been negligent for decades in not addressing the issues in the legal sex business that exists in the state.

A couple of quick observations. The recent reports give the appearance that porn has, up until now, been a paragon of virtue and all of a sudden cross-overs, drug users, escorts and new kids on the block are bringing disease into the industry.

Folks, there have always been cross-overs, drug users and escorts in porn. And, new kids on the block are what this industry is all about – bringing in that new talent that no one has ever seen before. Heck, Ed Powers created a couple of series on that premise: Fresh Off The Bus and New Ends.

My guess is that there have always been STDs. My guess also isn’t just that they were swept under the rug. Rather, over the last decade or so you’ve had a ramp up in the number of scenes being performed, the number of talent making those scenes, and the extreme nature of the scenes. Back in the Golden Age, there were a handful of actors and actresses and you saw them in every movie. Any time you increase the number of people in the pool, you increase the number of scenes being produced and you increase the risky nature of the scenes, you’re gonna get more disease. That’s just statistics.

You can’t discriminate against cross-overs. Guys who cross-over probably aren’t savvy enough to bring a lawsuit, but if they pass a blood test, you can’t discriminate based on their sexual preferences. That’s the law.

You can’t keep out escorts – it seems they all escort.

You could possibly drug test, but let’s face it: Porn attracts outlaws. Porn prides itself on being an outlaw industry. You eliminate drug users and you probably eliminate a significant share of the talent pool.

On the other hand …. condoms in conjunction with testing probably work. Or, it works better than discriminating against cross-overs, escorts and drug use.

If I were Steve Hirsch, I’d keep signing up the Farrah Abrahams, Myla Sinanjans and Sydney Leathers of the world. He probably pays them more than he pays his other talent, but I’ll bet he’s making more money on a handful of celebrity porn tapes than a whole bunch of mainstream porn. And there seems to be enough 20-something wanna celebrities willing to go on tape to create a business.

@jilted. You are right. It is a violation and I can even sue my employer if he asks of my hiv status or even any cancer from breast all the way to brain tumors. (Minus certain career paths) Management is not allowed to ask for that because it could be considered discrimination. I think TB is an exception though. *Crosses fingers and prays that someone in the 50 guy creampie didn’t have TB*

I think we can expect to see legislation stating that it is allowed in the near future. I can’t see that coming across the desk of a judge and him denying it. I think that is why Rob Black is insistent on a central testing facility. I’m sure lawyers or government officials stated that this was needed. It would be a testing facility that the government has control over and access to all of the records. That way the government would be the one telling you that you cannot legally appear in a film or even shoot the scene given the situation with Stagliano. If what he says is true about being in contact with officials then they obviously have informed him of that.

What if the couple with HIV sued because they couldn’t get hired to perform? How would that work out in court if they proved HIV being the reason? If I was employed at Burger King I could sue… Is it that the violations the porn industry commits haven’t been tried yet?

Whats that other sound coming from Sacremento. Its AB332 being bought back to life. Still time in this legislative session to revive the bill.

And what i the difference if they are new or seasoned veterans. yes, let the spin begin. Actually, dont most new girls get MORE work right when they enter the business?

Cpan, I agree with just about everything you have posted, but there is on major problem. The entire testing system of the industry is illegal. Porn companies have no right, and no legal authority to demand any pre employment testing, let alone drug screening. That would require an act of legislation by the state.

Just look at the current AIM suit, and every single producer or agent who ever had a password is on the hook, because the entire system was illegal, all the waivers were illegal, and everytime anyone logged on to look at resuls they committed a felony.