Barrage of Attack Calls to Voters Indicative of Voter Sentiment Swinging Against Measure B

In a decidedly negative and nasty turn in the campaign being waged on behalf of Measure B, the so-called “Safer Sex” initiative on the Los Angeles County ballot, the No on Government Waste Committee condemned a slew of robocall attack ads being unleashed by the Yes on B campaign this past weekend in response to an effective new television and radio campaign launched by the No on Measure B campaign that has swayed voters against the job-killing and tax-dollar hungry measure.

“Our recently launched television and radio ads are having a significant impact in informing voters of what a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars Measure B is and the devastating impact it will have in chasing away 10,000 entertainment industry production jobs out of the county,” said James Lee, communications director for the No on Government Waste Committee. “In response the Yes on B campaign and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation have launched a terribly cynical round of robocalls designed to scare voters into believing they and their families are all at risk from some sort of Larry Flynt boogeyman.”

The robocalls warn voters that adult film companies don’t care about voter health and implies broad-based support from state health organizations when in fact only two such organizations have endorsed Measure B in comparison to virtually every newspaper in the county, almost every chamber of commerce and business organization, ethnic and minority community groups, healthcare service providers and major political parties who have all urged a no vote against Measure B, according to the No on Government Waste Committee.

“The irony of AHF and Yes on B warning voters about who cares about their interests would humorous if it wasn’t so serious when you consider that AHF has already been cited by L.A. County auditors for overbilling taxpayers $1.7 million and is now foisting Measure B on taxpayers which is going to stick them with the bill to hire government inspectors to watch porn sets all day,” Lee said. “Voters are going to see through this charade and recognize the enormous cost to them at a time when L.A. County is threatened by budget cuts because of the recession and state budget crisis.”

The No on Government Waste Committee launched its ad campaign with a new television ad describing the increased costs to taxpayers and potential for deep cuts in county services such as fire and police protection and public health services should Measure B pass. It also released companion radio ads aimed at refuting the Yes on B’s misinformation about the lack of infections in the adult film community.

News media wishing to obtain a copy of the ad for use in coverage, can obtain downloads at Vimeo.

Measure B, funded and placed on the ballot by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, would require the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to license and permit adult movie productions in the county and require performers to wear condoms and create an unworkable system of on-set inspections and enforcement by county personnel. The county estimates initial start-up costs for the program to be in excess of $300,000, but acknowledges that regardless of the level of compliance by the adult film industry, there would be significant cost to the Department of Public Health.

According to the California Dept. of Public Health, from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2011, there were 6,447 new cases of HIV reported in Los Angeles County, but only two were adult performers who did not contract the disease on-set. Since 2004, there have been no documented cases of HIV transmission on an adult entertainment set.  In fact, with the industry’s strict testing protocols – requiring testing at least every 14 and 28 days for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis – adult performers are the most tested workforce in the nation.

No on Government Waste Committee

The Committee is comprised of entertainment companies, local business organizations, community activists, adult entertainment performers and healthcare advocates who oppose Measure B’s plan for creating an underfunded government inspection program diverting badly needed resources from local community clinics and underserved minority communities. For more information, please visit the campaign website.

Poor Data Analysis Does Not Accurately Reflect Lack of STDs in Adult Film Industry

In another sign of how desperate the proponents of Measure B, the so-called “Safer Sex” initiative, have become, a purportedly “new” study of sexually transmitted disease data was released today which was quickly denounced by the No on Government Waste Committee as a rehash of old 2010 data previously released and discredited in a desperate attempt to win back voters already committed to voting no against the ill-conceived ballot initiative.

“This study uses old data gathered in 2010 whose previous work was discredited by noted epidemiologist Dr. Lawrence S. Mayer who noted how poorly the data used by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation was collected and analyzed,” said James Lee, communications director for the No on Government Waste Committee. “It’s a cynical attempt at a last-ditch effort to influence voters who have already decided to vote against Measure B due in large part to the overwhelming endorsements of newspapers, political parties, business groups, healthcare organizations and community advocates.”

The study in question which ran in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases, purports to have reviewed the disease status of 168 “performers” from a Los Angeles-clinic treating them in 2010. Although the name of the clinic was not disclosed, Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation, which was closed after a flurry of frivolous lawsuits by AHF, was the industry supported clinic treating performers at the time, according to the No on Government Waste Committee.

The Committee noted that AIM treated not only performers, but any citizen who wished to be tested for STDs. It is these additional patient loads of non-performers, or people wishing to perform in the industry, but were not allowed to after testing positive, that were previously included in research work conducted by Dr. Peter R. Kerndt, who also participated in this study, demonstrating the erroneous nature of data analysis.

“AHF knows for a fact that its original argument for Measure B, to prevent HIV infection, has fallen flat on its face after we have demonstrated that no performer has contracted HIV on-set since 2004 so now it has shifted the attack to focus on STDs by using faulty data analysis to try and make Measure B more palatable to voters,” Lee said. “It won’t work because voters are now well acquainted with the desperate campaign tactics of Michael Weinstein and vitriolic hyperbole of AHF.”

The STD Journal study is not a scientifically valid survey sample since there is no representative control baseline sample, nor any differentiation on how the sample was culled, or the prevalence of STD rates for all patients seeking treatment at the clinic in question as a whole, Lee said.

“This study is akin to someone standing outside of a coffee house and asking people coming out with coffee if they like coffee and then ascribing that small survey sample to the entire population of a city,” Lee added. “It’s noteworthy that in a previous study by Dr. Kerndt that was analyzed in 2011 by Dr. Mayer, it was found to be not only ‘inaccurate, but also misleading and inflammatory toward the risk of contracting an STD in the adult film industry.’”

Measure B, funded and placed on the ballot by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, would require the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to license and permit adult movie productions in the county and require performers to wear condoms and create an unworkable system of on-set inspections and enforcement by county personnel. The county estimates initial start-up costs for the program to be in excess of $300,000, but acknowledges that regardless of the level of compliance by the adult film industry, there would be significant cost to the Department of Public Health.

According to the California Dept. of Public Health, from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2011, there were 6,447 new cases of HIV reported in Los Angeles County, but only two were adult performers who did not contract the disease on-set. Since 2004, there have been no documented cases of HIV transmission on an adult entertainment set.  In fact, with the industry’s strict testing protocols – requiring testing at least every 14 and 28 days for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis – adult performers are the most tested workforce in the nation.

No on Government Waste Committee

The Committee is comprised of entertainment companies, local business organizations, community activists, adult entertainment performers and healthcare advocates who oppose Measure B’s plan for creating an underfunded government inspection program diverting badly needed resources from local community clinics and underserved minority communities. For more information, please visit the campaign website.

AHF Has Long Record of Billing Improprieties Affecting Taxpayers

The No On Government Waste Committee, a broad coalition of healthcare, business, entertainment and community groups, responded forcefully to allegations by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation regarding a single contribution coming from Manwin USA, the U.S.-based subsidiary of a global entertainment firm, by calling the charge “baseless” and “idiotic” and a shallow attempt to divert attention from the overwhelming community support building against Measure B, the so-called “Safer Sex” initiative on the Nov. 6^th ballot.

“Once again, AHF has ably demonstrated they have no idea what they are talking about with this ridiculous allegation. They are so clueless, they even filed their complaint with the wrong government agency,” said James Lee, communications director for the No on Government Waste Committee. “They know the polling as well as we do as voter sentiment throughout the county has turned against them and against Measure B and now they are trying desperately to do anything to save what is arguably the dumbest initiative ever to make a ballot.”

In the beginning of the campaign, a clerical error resulted in a contribution being misidentified as coming from Froytal Services LTD, when in fact it came from Manwin, USA, a U.S.-based firm registered in Delaware, RI. The error was corrected and all campaign disclosures were updated, said Lee. Federal and state election law clearly allows for contributions from overseas corporate entities so long as it comes from a subsidiary based and registered in the U.S. As an example, both the Romney and Obama presidential campaigns and related Super PACS have taken in hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign contributions from U.S.-based subsidiaries of foreign companies.

“The irony in AHF citing a campaign violation when it has willfully violated disclosure requirements in not telling voters that former porn actors Darren James and Derrick James were both paid by Yes on B for their endorsements is almost laughable, if it wasn’t so serious,” Lee said. “It’s even more pathetic when you consider how AHF has conducted its bookkeeping operations in its own business at the expense of taxpayers.”

The No on Government Waste Committee revealed government audits which showed a long pattern of double-billing and over-charging by AHF that potentially cost taxpayers millions of dollars, including:

• August 16, 2012 audit by the Los Angeles County Department of Auditor-Controller showed that AHF overbilled the Department of Public Health by $1.7 million for contracts worth $8.5 million from January 2008 to March 2009. The audit also found about $20,000 in undocumented and unallowable expenditures. The Auditor-Controller has asked AHF to determine the amount of overbilling for subsequent years;
• Two separate audits by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration on February 16, 2010, and August 29, 2006, showed AHF billed Medicaid for pharmaceutical drugs that were not purchased or dispensed to patients. The 2010 audit showed Medicaid overpaid AHF by $8,117.42 and the 2006 audit showed the overpayment was $73,595.80. The agency also fined AHF $3,435.22 in 2010 and $5,000 in 2006;
• In a June 3, 2010, examination by the California Department of Managed Care of 59 claims paid by AHF, auditors found problems with AHF’s accounting and billing practices that resulted in AHF underpaying claims submitted to them for medical services provided to policyholders of Positive Healthcare, AHF’s privately-owned insurance plan; and
• In May 13, 2005, the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller found AHF was double-billing L.A. County and Medi-Cal for the same patients receiving hospice service at the Carl Bean House over an eight-month period from March 2004 through December 2004. AHF kept $348,000 in overpayments and refused to repay it to the county and argued that it had been double-billing since 1992 and were entitled to the additional funds due to the low-reimbursement rate from Medi-Cal.

“AHF has a long history of shoddy bookkeeping that has costs taxpayers and with Measure B it has once again put forth another taxpayer-funded debacle. For a non-profit organization that receives the bulk of its funding from taxpayer-supported Medicare and Medicaid insurance payments, the question should be at the top of every regulator and elected official’s mind ‘Just what the heck is AHF doing with scarce taxpayer dollars?’” Lee said. “If nothing else comes out of this election, a thorough investigation of AHF’s books, especially its use of potential taxpayer dollars to fund political activity, should be at the top of every investigators to-do list.”

Measure B, funded and placed on the ballot by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, would require the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to license and permit adult movie productions in the county and require performers to wear condoms and create an unworkable system of on-set inspections and enforcement by county personnel. The county estimates initial start-up costs for the program to be in excess of $300,000, but acknowledges that regardless of the level of compliance by the adult film industry, there would be significant cost to the Department of Public Health.

According to the California Dept. of Public Health, from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2011, there were 6,447 new cases of HIV reported in Los Angeles County, but only two were adult performers who did not contract the disease on-set. Since 2004, there have been no documented cases of HIV transmission on an adult entertainment set.  In fact, with the industry’s strict testing protocols – requiring testing at least every 14 and 28 days for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis – adult performers are the most tested workforce in the nation.

No on Government Waste Committee

The Committee is comprised of entertainment companies, local business organizations, community activists, adult entertainment performers and healthcare advocates who oppose Measure B’s plan for creating an underfunded government inspection program diverting badly needed resources from local community clinics and underserved minority communities. For more information, please visit the campaign website.

(l to r) Chi Chi, Eric Swiss, Riley Reid, Anikka Albrite, Will Ryder, and J.J. Hollyberry, who plays Blutarsky in ‘Not Animal House XXX’

Costumed members of the porn industry turned out by the hundreds Saturday night at the annual Heaven & Hell Porn Bash in Hollywood thrown by XPlay’s Jeff Mullen and Scott David, and Danny B. Many industry members attended to support the ‘No on Measure B’ campaign – Los Angeles’ condom ballot measure, which allows government to creep closer into your lives by regulating the type of entertainment you watch in your bedroom.

On a warm, breezeless night, the costume bash expanded to over 1,000 people by 11pm at adjacent clubs Roxbury & Hemingway’s. The industry had their own sexy private VIP room, packed with scantily clad porn stars who drank and danced the night away. 

“The goal of the party was to have a great time celebrating Halloween – and to raise cash and awareness for the industry’s efforts on behalf of ‘no on government waste,’ which will help purchase the final television and radio spots encouraging people to vote no on measure B,” stated multi-award winning director Mullen.

Measure B is an ill-conceived effort to require mandatory condom usage on adult film sets, but instead will destroy the nation’s most advanced testing program and replace it with a government program that will cost taxpayers money for “condom police.”  If you believe our government should not waste taxpayer’s money attempting to regulate what has been a safe adult movie industry, please vote no on Measure B.

If Measure B is not defeated, it will have a tremendously negative effect on the adult film industry; the gala event raised much-needed money for advertising before the general election on Nov. 6. But more money is quickly needed. If you wish to make a private donation to No on Measure B, please visit the website.Any amount will help.

“Measure B is much more than a condom vote, which most in our own adult movie industry don’t realize – it really has to do with who is going to control the decisions affecting the adult film making industry,” stated Scott David of XPlay Media.

The Halloween bash has been widely known as the porn party-of-the-year and was sponsored by The Screaming O^®, HotMovies, Adam & Eve Pictures, Uncle Don’s Exotic Interludes, XPlay, Adult Biz Law, Free Speech Coalition and All Media Play. The gala also was the official celebration of the parody movie “Not Animal House XXX,” from Adam & Eve Pictures and XPlay. Many members of the cast were in attendance including Britney Amber who played ‘Babs’.

“This is always such a fun night seeing friends and having a few drinks with all these sexy ladies and cute guys,” the blond superstar said over the pulsating music.    

The evening was packed with gorgeous ladies as it was co-hosted by the top talent agencies including OC Modeling, LA Direct Models, Adult Talent Managers LA, Spiegler Girls, Type 9 Models, Foxxx Modeling and Matrix Models – girls from every agency were spotted in the packed party. 

Superstar Sunny Lane even came out from her self-imposed sabbatical from the porn industry, to hit the red carpet as she returns to the industry full-force. 

“I don’t ever want to miss one of these XPlay parties so I decided to put on a costume and come out and have some fun,” said Lane.

Ron Jeremy acted as the master of ceremonies but rarely got far away from the red carpet photo area as he was mobbed by photographers and cute new starlets looking to pose with him for some risqué photos. 

“Are you kidding me? I’ve been coming to Heaven & Hell for ten years now and I always have a great time with my friends and these cute new girls. Somebody has to teach them what goes where and why,” said Jeremy, who was there promoting his Ron de Jeremy rum.

“We had to tell Ronnie that the photo area was not a bedroom,” joked director Will Ryder.

Spooky party hostess Mia Gold experienced her first really big porn party and raved about it.

“This was so much fun and I had an amazing time with all of these beautiful people and it was so much better than I anticipated.”

Award-winning actor James Bartholet echoed the sentiment, “Another fabulous night filled with colorful language and sexy girls.”

(Media release and photo courtesy of XPlay)

The owners of Reseda Flowers and banquet hall Venetian Palace, and other businesses located in the San Fernando have graciously volunteered to throw a fundraiser benefiting the NO on Measure B campaign.

The event is scheduled for 5-9pm on Thursday, Nov 1, at the Venetian Palace, located at 6740 Corbin Ave., Reseda, CA, 91335. There will be food and non-alcoholic beverages served, as well as entertainment provided by a psychic reader and a DJ. The fundraiser welcomes adult industry members and the public; donations will be taken at the event. FSC’s Duke and Vivid Entertainment’s Marci Hirsch will attend, and other adult industry members are encouraged to attend.

“Carmen [owner of Reseda Flowers] and the owners of Venetian Palace reached out to us and they want to do this fundraiser for the NO on Measure B campaign,” FSC CEO Diane Duke said. “It’s proof that the people of the San Fernando Valley do support the adult industry and see us as an important part of the community. Also, the event organizers say that they don’t like Measure B or intrusion by government into people’s personal choices, when it comes to sexuality and adult entertainment.

“Once voters understand that the adult industry has a successful testing program, people can see that Measure B is unnecessary,” Duke added. “L.A. County has real issues to deal with, like the economy and creating jobs. Local officials should be focused on providing services and resources for small, local businesses that need them, among many other issues.”

FSC also would like to remind industry members to be good neighbors and support local businesses like Reseda Flowers and the Venetian Palace. By supporting our local communities, we give back to friends and fans of the adult industry. Save the date – Thursday night will be a lot of fun!

Here’s an infographic we would love for you to share with friends and anyone that you know will be voting in L.A. County on Nov 6. Simply put, these are the facts about Measure B, L.A.’s Condom Ballot Measure.

An L.A. County budget adviser this week just recommended 200 more layoffs for the County, mostly personnel from the City Attorney’s Office and LAPD.

Clearly, AHF does not care about Los Angeles taxpayers if they think putting condoms on adult performers is an most important “threat” to public safety in Los Angeles. The No to Measure B Committee asks you to put police, victims of crime and the citizens of Los Angeles first – ahead of Measure B, which will only waste desperately needed funding and resources.

For more information on the opposition to Measure B, please visit the website, where you can view videos voluntarily created by adult industry performers who are directly threatened by Measure B’s potential repercussions. And, if you feel strongly against government overreach, unnecessary regulations, wasting tax dollars and misguided legislation, please DONATE – even $5 can help – Please, help us in our effort and VOTE NO on Measure B!

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2012 FSC Awards.

“This year’s FSC Awards recipients are a fine example of the industry’s best and brightest” FSC CEO Diane Duke said. “We are honored to recognize their important contributions and to celebrate the recipients among their colleagues and peers. Congratulations!”

Esteemed industry members named to receive awards are as follows:

Legacy Award – Susan Colvin, California Exotic Novelties

This award is given to an individual who, though innovative ideas and successful business practices, has built a solid presence in the adult entertainment industry.  Furthermore, this individual has gone above and beyond to not only protect the rights and freedoms of individuals and businesses within the industry, but also to improve the stature of the industry as a whole. This award is called the Legacy Award rather than a lifetime achievement award because while the individual has done much to build an outstanding legacy, FSC knows that this individual’s great contributions are far from over.

Positive Image Awards – Performers Steven St. Croix and Jessica Drake

These awards go to industry performers who have gone out of their way to dispel the myths and misconceptions of the adult entertainment industry through advocacy and public awareness programs, and community service.

Man of the Year and Woman of the Year – Tim Valenti (AEBN, Naked Sword) and Theresa Flynt (Hustler Hollywood)

These awards go to individuals who have displayed exceptional leadership qualities both within their own business, and throughout the industry. While the recipient of this award is clearly a successful business professional, the individual who is awarded FSC’s Man or Woman of the Year has made a significant positive contribution to the overall welfare of the adult entertainment industry.

Novelty Company of the Year – Sportsheets

This award goes to the novelty company that has demonstrated constant and unwavering innovation and excellence. The company’s success not only benefits their individual business but also the industry as a whole. In addition to their creative innovation, the company conducts business with high ethical standards and integrity.

Production Company of the Year – Vivid Entertainment

This award goes to the production company that has demonstrated constant and unwavering innovation and excellence. The company’s success not only benefits their individual business but also the industry as a whole. In addition to their creative innovation, the company conducts business with high ethical standards and integrity.

Internet Company of the Year – Gamma Entertainment

This award goes to the Internet company that has demonstrated constant and unwavering innovation and excellence. The company’s success not only benefits their individual business but also the industry as a whole. In addition to their creative innovation, the company conducts business with high ethical standards and integrity.

Benefactor of the Year – Manwin

This award goes to the company that has demonstrated a consistent commitment to philanthropy and advocacy within the adult industry and throughout mainstream society. This award is given to a company that not only helps break the myths and misinformation about the adult industry through its contributions, but also assists in protecting the industry from legislative threats, industry-wide exploitation, business risks, and industry critics.

The FSC Awards will be presented at a special awards reception, immediately following the FSC Summit event. The one-day summit and awards presentation, produced by XBIZ Magazine, will take place on Thursday, Nov 8th at the Sofitel Hotel in West Hollywood, Ca.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information about the FSC Summit and FSC Awards, visit the website or call (818) 348-9373.

Medical and Social Service Provider Opposes Effort to Take Away Performer Choice

The overwhelming outpouring of opposition to Measure B, the so-called “Safer Sex” initiative on the Nov. 6^th ballot, continued with the announcement by St. James Infirmary, a San Francisco-based community medical and social services provider, to oppose the initiative, joining every major newspaper, political parties, gay, lesbian and women’s groups, 44 chambers of commerce and business groups in Los Angeles County, said the No on Government Waste Committee.

“There is virtually no part of Los Angeles County’s political, business and healthcare life that has not come forward to oppose Measure B,” said James Lee, communications director for the No on Government Waste Committee. “We are deeply gratified to have the support and endorsement of St. James Infirmary, a terrific institution that has been dedicated to providing healthcare and social services to sex workers and fighting the scourge of HIV.”

St. James Infirmary annually provides 8,000 clinic and venue based services to more than 2,000 sex workers and their families. These services include medical and holistic care, testing services, peer counseling, needle distribution and recovery, outreach and group harm reduction workshops, hot meals to eat and food to take home, clothes, internships and capacity and leadership development.

“The motivations behind pushing for compulsory use of condoms in porn may be well intended, but the regulation of sex workers sexual health practices by outside agencies ultimately may result in unintended negative outcomes,” said Stephny Ashley, programs director for St. James Infirmary. “The self-regulating testing practices of the L.A. porn industry have been effective in keeping HIV prevalence at rates comparable to that of the general population since 2006.”

“We at St James Infirmary believe first and foremost in an individual’s right to make their own reproductive and sexual health choices, without having those choices regulated by politicians, police, religious or non-profit organizations. Sex workers are the most qualified to make decisions about how to best institute safer working conditions within their job environments, and only with their expertise should regulations be made,” Ashley added.

Along with the recent endorsements against Measure B by the Los Angeles County Federation of Republican Women, Log Cabin Republicans of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Republican and Libertarian Parties, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, six other local newspapers, 44 other local area chambers of commerce and the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, the largest business group in the San Fernando Valley, those standing in opposition to Measure B dwarfs the limited support proponents have been able to muster.

“Condoms are a vital part of reducing sexual health risk, and it should be every individual’s right to use them.  Unfortunately, Measure B does not address this issue,” Ashley said. “If Measure B passes, how soon before politicians, lawmakers and those who have no business in our bedrooms, barge in with further laws regulating our sexuality and personal freedoms?”

Measure B, funded and placed on the ballot by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, would require the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to license and permit adult movie productions in the county and require performers to wear condoms and create an unworkable system of on-set inspections and enforcement by county personnel. The county estimates initial start-up costs for the program to be in excess of $300,000, but acknowledges that regardless of the level of compliance by the adult film industry, there would be significant cost to the Department of Public Health.

According to the California Dept. of Public Health, from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2011, there were 6,447 new cases of HIV reported in Los Angeles County, but only two were adult performers who did not contract the disease on-set. Since 2004, there have been no documented cases of HIV transmission on an adult entertainment set.  In fact, with the industry’s strict testing protocols – requiring testing at least every 28 days for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis – adult performers are the most tested workforce in the nation.

No on Government Waste Committee

The Committee is comprised of entertainment companies, local business organizations, community activists, adult entertainment performers and healthcare advocates who oppose Measure B’s plan for creating an underfunded government inspection program diverting badly needed resources from local community clinics and underserved minority communities. For more information, please visit: www.noongovernmentwaste.com.

Gay Republicans Latest to Join 44 Chambers of Commerce and Business Groups Opposed to Measure B

The effort to defeat Measure B, the so-called “Safer Sex” initiative on the Nov. 6th ballot, gain another important endorsement today when the Log Cabin Republicans of Los Angeles announced its opposition to Measure B, the so-called “Safer Sex” initiative on the Nov. 6th ballot, said the No on Government Waste Committee.

“The broad range of support for defeating Measure B covers business groups, political parties, women’s groups, healthcare advocates, the entertainment industry and now the gay and lesbian community,” said James Lee, communications director for the No on Government Waste Committee. “The outpouring of support across the county in defeating Measure B has been a stunning repudiation of Measure B and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s misguided attempts to create a new government bureaucracy of condom inspectors.”

Log Cabin Republicans is the only Republican organization dedicated to representing the interests of gay and lesbian Americans and their allies. The 30-year old organization has state and local chapters nationwide, a full-time office in Washington, DC, a federal political action committee and state political action committees.

“While Log Cabin supports the public health objectives behind Measure B, we do not believe that an onerous government mandate is the best way to accomplish those goals,” said Brad Torgan, Log Cabin Los Angeles Chapter president. “Instead, Measure B is more likely to drive production out of Los Angeles County, costing us jobs when we can least afford to lose them.”

“To me and others, Measure B is a simple constitutional question. If you believe that speech is protected under the First Amendment, then government has little power to mandate speech,” added Scott Schmidt, Log Cabin Los Angeles Chapter immediate past-president. “If it is protected under the First Amendment, then the County cannot step in and say what can or cannot be said or done, but for the rare circumstances of ‘screaming fire in a crowded theater.’ Measure B does not meet that Constitutional test.”

Along with the recent endorsements against Measure B by the Los Angeles County Federation of Republican Women, Los Angeles County Republican and Libertarian Parties, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, six other local newspapers, 43 other local area chambers of commerce and the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, the largest business group in the San Fernando Valley, those standing in opposition to Measure B dwarfs the limited support proponents have been able to muster.

Log Cabin Republicans of Los Angeles will be funding an independent expenditure to reach out within the LGBT community to oppose Measure B and promote four out-and-proud candidates endorsed by the California Log Cabin Republicans PAC.

Currently Log Cabin Clubs are chartered in Los Angeles, Santa Clara and San Francisco Counties. Endorsements in Federal races are made by the National Log Cabin Club, while State Constitutional and Legislative endorsements are made by the State Chapter.

Measure B, funded and placed on the ballot by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, would require the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to license and permit adult movie productions in the county and require performers to wear condoms and create an unworkable system of on-set inspections and enforcement by county personnel. The county estimates initial start-up costs for the program to be in excess of $300,000, but acknowledges that regardless of the level of compliance by the adult film industry, there would be significant cost to the Department of Public Health.

According to the California Dept. of Public Health, from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2011, there were 6,447 new cases of HIV reported in Los Angeles County, but only two were adult performers who did not contract the disease on-set. Since 2004, there have been no documented cases of HIV transmission on an adult entertainment set. In fact, with the industry’s strict testing protocols — requiring testing at least every 28 days for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis — adult performers are the most tested workforce in the nation.

No on Government Waste Committee

The Committee is comprised of entertainment companies, local business organizations, community activists, adult entertainment performers and healthcare advocates who oppose Measure B’s plan for creating an underfunded government inspection program diverting badly needed resources from local community clinics and underserved minority communities. For more information, please visit: http://www.noongovernmentwaste.com.

Taken at a Labor Day Parade in New York City, circa 1909

Like so many ballot measures, Proposition 35 is a well-intentioned debacle. Purportedly targeting people who engage in sexual slavery, especially of minors, the definitions are so broad that the law would implicate people who are not remotely engaged in forced sexual conduct, especially adult producers.

Just one example tells almost everything you need to know. “Coercion” is defined as including “abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.” Therefore you could be charged with sex trafficking if you were to say to an independent contractor, “If you do not perform the scene as agreed to in writing, I’ll sue you for every penny you are worth.”  This is potentially “threatened abuse of the legal process,” since you could not actually get more than the actual damages incurred.

Another chilling component is the provision which states “Mistake of fact as to age of a victim of human trafficking is not a defense to criminal prosecution under this section.” The law is not limited to inherently illegal sexual conduct, but includes consensual (and otherwise legal) commercial sexual activity. Therefore a minor providing a producer with valid (but fraudulently obtained) driver’s license or passport misrepresenting his or her age could result in the producer being criminally liable in ways the producer is not liable under current Federal and state law.

There are many other horrible parts, and none of it is necessary because of existing laws. That is why the State’s major newspapers are opposing against Prop. 35. I am not saying that if this passes, it will be a disaster for the adult industry.  Most likely, it will not be used against us. However, an ill-intentioned prosecutor, such as we have had in the past (remember L.A. County D.A. Bob Philibosian?), could use this law to destroy lives.

Please vote No on Proposition 35, and tell your friends. It is highly likely to pass.

- Jeffrey J. Douglas, A Professional Corporation

1717 Fourth Street, Third Floor

Santa Monica, CA  90401-3319

jjdxxx1@gmail.com