(l tor) Dr. Richwald, Diane Duke and Christian Mann
Yesterday at a meeting for industry stakeholders, Free Speech Coalition rolled out plans for Adult Production Health & Safety Services (APHSS). The program is being developed to fill the gap left by the closure of the AIM clinic earlier this month.
The meeting opened with comments from FSC Board member and Evil Angel general manager Christian Mann, who explained the components of APHSS, and how the program would address important issues, including setting up sexually-transmitted infection testing protocol and standards; providing a choice of facilities for reliable testing and follow-up healthcare for performers; and the creation of a secured database, with limited access for producers and talent agents in order to ensure user privacy as much as possible. The swift implementation of the APHSS program will provide services that were provided by AIM, and build from there, for an improved system of self-regulation and increased resources for industry members.
Mann cited several adult producers that have agreed to support the APHSS program, including Wicked Pictures, Reality Kings, Evil Angel, Jules Jordan, Vivid Entertainment, Hustler and Girlfriends Films.
Mann urged industry unity – noting that with an opportunity to rebuild the former STI testing system, development of APHSS would result in positive change for all industry members, while also confronting the challenges to the industry that have resulted from scrutiny by CalOSHA, as well as anti-industry entities that have long questioned the ability of the industry to provide self-regulation.
“Everyone has a stake in this,” Mann said. “We are stronger if we are united to protect performers and our businesses.”
FSC Executive Director Diane Duke then gave an overview of the APHSS program set-up.
APHSS Program features include:
- Creation of a database for producers and agents to verify performers’ availability. The information to be shared with producers will include ONLY legal names, a membership number, and availability status indicated with a “yes” or “no.” There will be no medical records contained in the database. PERFORMERS CAN PRE-REGISTER FOR THE DATABASE NOW BY GOING TO http://www.freespeechcoalition.com/aphss/
- Performers’ personal medical records will be available to performers from APHSS-recommended testing facilities/healthcare providers and will be accessible electronically or in hard copy.Protocol for follow-up medical treatments will be established, with attention given to standards for proper ethical treatment of the performers.
- The costs for performers to use the APHSS database will be $50 annually; FSC member-producers will pay $150 monthly, non-members can access the database for a $250 fee. All database user will be vetted for security clearance through the FSC.
- STI testing fees for a performers’ panel are expected to range from $130-$150, in locations available nationwide.
- APHSS will have an advisory committee made up of a medical consultant, a legal consultant (attorney Karen Tynan has been designated for this position), a producer representative, a talent agent, and three performers. Their function will be to provide feedback and guidance in addressing production health and safety issues.
- In Phase Two of APHSS Program implementation, an educational component will be added, to ensure that the overall performing population is well-informed on STI information, and industry related health & safety concerns and protocol.
Proposed medical consultant Dr. Gary Richwald also spoke at yesterday’s meeting. Dr. Richwald MD, MPH is a clinical virologist and communicable disease expert, and served as Director and Chief Physician of L.A. County STD program from 1989-2000. His goal is to bring an extensive background in social medicine to the APHSS program, serve in his role as a mediator between the industry and public health organizations, and also develop appropriate sexual health protocols for the adult community.
“Cooperation and collaboration are what create good health,” Dr. Richwald said.
FSC Board member and Kink.com founder Peter Acworth addressed database technology and security, with expertise from operation of his adult online business since 1998. He explained the database interface and structure through a slide presentation.
After the presentation, the floor was opened to questions from attendees. The discussion was lively, with comments from director Brad Armstrong, Girlfriends Films owner Dan O’Connell, respected performer Nina Hartley and her husband and director Ernest Green, and agent Mark Spiegler.
Development of APHSS has been carried out as quickly as possible, since the closure of AIM less than four weeks ago. The launch date for the database and announcement of recommended testing providers is projected to be mid-June, and appointments of the APHSS advisory committee should be announced by June 30.
FSC would like to thank industry members that have contributed to help with the APHSS program. Our appreciation goes out to both Christian Mann and Peter Acworth for generously giving their time, as well as the services of Kink.com and Evil Angel staff. XBIZ.com owner Alec Helmy also has been instrumental in helping to develop the soon-to be launched APHSS website. Attorneys Karen Tynan and Jeffrey Douglas also have contributed their hard work to program development. We appreciate the work of IT specialist Tanguy de Courson and graphic artist Jason Harter, in helping with the database design and structure.
Special thanks to Wicked Pictures and Girlfriends Films for their continued generosity.
Performers can pre-register for the APHSS database now by going to http://www.freespeechcoalition.com/aphss/ and following the directions. The data gathered in the pre-registration period will be used to populate the database once it is launched. Producer pre- registration will be announced as soon as possible.
From more information on APHSS or FSC, please contact joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.
(Photo courtesy AVN.com/Mark Kernes)
