CANOGA PARK, Calif. — The Free Speech Coalition sent out email messages today to traditional and online adult content producers and directors to highlight several “critical issues” that will impact adult content in 2016.
“The first is the Weinstein ballot initiative in California. You need to know about this issue!” said Diane Duke, the FSC’s CEO, in reference to two meetings in January at XBIZ 2016 and Adult Entertainment Expo concerning the California ballot initiative sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
The AHF’s initiative would require mandatory condoms for performers and strictly regulate adult filmmaking in the state.
California’s secretary of state, Alex Padilla, announced last month that the AHF’s initiative, “The California Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act,” is eligible for the Nov. 8 general election ballot.
“This disastrous initiative impacts all producers, distributors, performers — or anyone with a financial interest in a non-condom film, scene, cam show or webcast,” Duke said. “And when I say non-condom that means for everything — including girl-girl and oral.
“These meetings will provide industry professionals information about the initiative, where the industry stands in the fight and strategies for defeating the initiative,” she said.
Duke also made mention in the letter of a Cal/OSHA Standards Board hearing slated for Feb. 18 in Oakland regarding newly revised worker regulations that as proposed would mandate goggles, condoms, dental dams, gloves and other skin guards for adult performers.
The revised regulations that amend California Code of Regulations Title 8 § 5193 were released in mid-October and ignored extensive opposition by performers, producers and health experts.
Now, the proposed § 5193.1 — which would mandate barrier protection, including condoms, to shield performers from contact with bloodborne pathogens, or other potentially infectious material during the production of films — will go to a full vote before Cal/OSHA’s rulemaking body.
“We need as many people as possible to show up to that meeting and let the Standards Board know that we oppose the Cal/OSHA's staff proposed regulations,” Duke said. “We are asking industry producers not to schedule shoot on that day and to assist as many of their people as possible to attend that meeting.”
Duke in her letter asked adult companies not to schedule production on Monday, Feb. 18, and bring as many performers and staff as possible to the Cal/OSHA Standard's Board Meeting that begins at 10 a.m.
The meeting at XBIZ 2016 is slated for Thursday, Jan. 14, from 1-1:50 p.m. at the Andaz hotel in West Hollywood, Calif. (XBIZ is extending free access to qualified content producers)
The Cal/OSHA Standards Board Meeting is slated for Monday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. at the Harris State Building Auditorium, 1515 Clay St., Oakland, Calif., 94612.
For more information contact joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.
