APAC Challenges Weinstein to Debate Prop 60

CANOGA PARK, Calif. — The Adult Performer Advocacy Committee has issued a call for the Proposition 60 proponent and funder, Michael Weinstein, to defend his measure before the general election on Nov. 8.

This morning APAC asked Weinstein, who leads the AIDS Healthcare Foundation as president, to debate face-to-face with the adult entertainment performer community.

“We once again ask you to come down from your tower and meet with the adult performers who will be hurt by your offensive, dangerous ballot measure,” APAC said in a petition made on Change.org.

“Over the past six months, you and your surrogates have attacked, degraded and demeaned performers. You’ve called us a public health threat, a bad influence, called us liars and lawbreakers and suggested we move out of state if we don’t want to be sued or harassed.

APAC particularly took issue with one of Prop 60’s tools — giving “each of California’s 38 million residents the power sue performers if they see a film where the condom isn’t visible.”

“It’s an outrageous violation that would open us to stalkers, harassers, anti-porn activists and, maybe most disturbingly, profiteers. As you know, your proposition offers a large cash bounty for successfully bringing each suit, then forces us to pay our harassers’ legal fees.”

The performer-based members group went on to say that Weinstein has “shamed us, sued us and attacked us.”

“Prop 60 would give you nearly unlimited power — and unlimited state resources — to carry out your hateful campaign against an already stigmatized population,” the group said.

“You may think you know what’s best for us. You may think you speak for us. You may think that you have a better control of women’s bodies than the women themselves. We have less than 30 days until the election. If you really believe your position, we ask that you defend it.

“We challenge you to a debate — a performer versus the proponent — to help explain why you deserve a greater say in our sexual health than we do.

“Come down from that tower — or we’ll bring the discussion to you.”