OAKLAND, Calif. — Adult entertainment stakeholders voiced their opinions yesterday at Cal/OSHA Standards Board’s monthly meeting over future proposals to further regulate adult film making in the state.
The meeting was held in Oakland at the Harris State Building Auditorium, the site of this past February’s dramatic Standards Board meeting where state-appointed officials effectively shot down the draft proposal § 5193.1, which would not only have required condoms for all filmed pornography in the state, but also barrier protection for eyes, skin, mouth and mucous membranes.
Since the meeting in February, both the Free Speech Coalition and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the longtime proponent of a number of proposals to further regulate porn production, have filed two petitions with the state relative to address the safety and health of workers in the adult film industry.
(The AHF, as well as its president, Michael Weinstein, also are calling for voter approval in the state’s Proposition 60, which also would further regulate porn production and has been placed on November’s General Election ballot.)
Petition 560, filed by the FSC, and Petition 557, filed by the AHF, both request new regulatory language for § 5193, the current California law.
The Standards Board will consider what actions to take on the petitions at the next meeting on Aug. 18 in Walnut Creek, Calif., Cal/OSHA spokeswoman Erika Monterroza told XBIZ.
Yesterday at the Oakland hearing, public comment time presented an opportunity for adult industry workers and performers “to remind the Standards Board of their desire for involvement in any and all regulatory processes,” industry attorney Karen Tynan told XBIZ.
Tynan spoke on behalf of the FSC and reminded board members that the adult entertainment industry is anxious to begin the advisory committee process.
Others who spoke voicing their opinions and giving their blessings for the FSC’s new proposal included adult performer Ariel X; FiveStar, an adult director and filmmaking crewmember; and Mona Wales, a performer, director and producer of adult content who also represented APAC (Adult Performer Advocacy Committee) as a member.
Wales reminded the board that she spoke in February and thanked the panel for including performers in the process.
“She was appreciative and indicated her support of the FSC proposal,” Tynan said.
In addition, Tynan said that Phyllisha Anne, founder of the International Entertainment Adult Union, told the board that the union has 300 members and that they are excited to be working with Cal/OSHA, the FSC and the AHF. Allisa Hill, a vice president of APAG (Adult Performers and Actors Guild), also spoke.
Thursday’s Standards Board hearing also included public comment from a member of the AHF.
Adam Cohen, the AHF’s director of policy and advocacy, voiced his opposition to the FSC’s proposal and to any regulation that did not require absolute and unequivocal use of condoms.
The next Cal/OSHA Standards Board meeting is slated Thursday, Aug. 18, at the Walnut Creek City Council Chambers at 1666 N. Main St. in Walnut Creek, CA 94596.
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