Yes, the voting public actually had an opinion on whether or not porn actors should be forced to wear condoms when filming. I don't mind saying that feels like tremendous overreach to me. Some have said that the use of condoms destroys the fantasy elements of pornographic films because it reminds the viewer of real life concerns such as disease and pregnancy. Others, like LA prosecutor Wendy Murphy, claim the law will be tremendously beneficial in keeping women in the industry disease-free.
Shortly after the implementation of Measure B, which also requires that a health permit be purchased and displayed visibly on the set of every pornographic movie shoot, porn actress Kayden Kross sued Los Angeles County. Kross stated that Measure B deprives her of her First Amendment right. I disagree with Measure B, but it's difficult to imagine there's a statement made by bareback sex that can't be made in a safer way.
Other prominent actors that oppose the measure included Tanya Tate, James Deen, Danny Wylde, and Ron Jeremy. In 2012, Kayden Kross appeared on FOX's John Stossel show to explain how Measure B violates her freedom as an artist and to discuss why the porn industry doesn't want or need government intrusion in something so personal and individual.
Supporters of the law include porn great Jenna Jameson as well as the Pink Cross Foundation—which provides support to past and present sex industry workers.
Governmental or Personal Responsibility?
Does the government have a responsibility to protect porn actors from disease? If so, should this responsibility extend to forcing actors to wear condoms during shoots? Porn actors are adults. Many porn participants feel it's no one else's business what they wear at work. Some actresses also claim that condoms make sex more painful—especially considering that some sex scenes shoot for hours at a time. Currently, porn with condoms is considered a sub-genre rather than something intended to have mass appeal. Will this government intrusion result in lower porn profits in the long run?
