LOS ANGELES — Adult film performers have requested that Michael Weinstein, the proponent of a controversial ballot initiative that would allow private citizens to sue adult film performers when a condom is not visible in an adult film, pull the initiative ahead of a crucial June 30 deadline.
Performers, led by Chanel Preston, president of the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee, are requesting a public meeting with Michael Weinstein on Tuesday, June 28, at 12 p.m., at the Andaz in West Hollywood. Members of the press are invited to attend, though performers reserve the right to conduct some discussions privately, if it will be more productive.
The open letter to Weinstein and information about the meeting is below:
Mr. Weinstein,
As the sole proponent and funder of the Safer Sex in Adult Film Act, we are calling on you to pull this dangerous initiative from the November ballot by the deadline of June 30, before any performers are harmed. We ask that you personally meet with us on Tuesday, June 28, to discuss a way forward. You have repeatedly stated that you want the best for adult film performers, however, the largest performer-led organization, Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (APAC) is opposed to this initiative.
We call on you to remove the ballot initiative and work with us directly on regulations for the following reasons:
This month, Cal/OSHA announced it will convene a working group including performers and performer groups on new regulations to protect performers, beginning this summer. These talks represent a first for Cal/OSHA, and a chance to finally have our voices heard on regulations that affect us.
Both the major political parties in California, Republican and Democrat, representing over 13 million voters, have officially opposed this measure, given the threat it poses to performers' safety and privacy. They have been joined by major HIV/AIDS groups, including SF AIDS Foundation and AIDS Project LA.
Your own representatives have admitted that the initiative will allow performers to be sued personally when a condom is not visible. This poorly drafted provision will lead to profiteering, harassment, privacy violations and outright physical danger to thousands of adult performers.
Last year, the California legislature passed SB 1253 (Steinberg) for situations just like this. An initiative containing so many flaws, and an issue being addressed by a state entity is reasonable justification to withdraw the initiative from the November ballot.
The provision allows a proponent to pull the initiative no later than 130 days before the general statewide election, in this case, June 30.
As the largest performer organization in the industry, we call on you personally to meet with us at: Andaz West Hollywood, Studio 1, 8401 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA
We hope to have an honest public discussion, to find commonality and to explain why the initiative, as written, is so dangerous to performer health and safety. As the sole proponent of this measure, we ask that you — not a surrogate — attend the meeting, as you are the only one able to remove it by the June 30 deadline.
We will be at the Andaz on June 28 at noon, and hoping to see you there.
Ela Darling
Board Member
Adult Performers Advocacy Committee (APAC)
Eric Paul Leue
Californians Against Worker Harassment
