Condoms and Porn Stars

Should pornography actors be forced to wear condoms when on the set? Is it a public health issue or an issue of condemning a population of people whose morals don’t exactly match up with those of lawmakers? Earlier this month, Los Angeles County passed Measure B, which requires performers to wear condoms while filming. Many people in the porn industry have spoken out against the ordinance, including 26-year-old adult film star James Deen. In the CNN article “James Deen on CaliforniaMeasure Requiring Condoms in Porn,” Deen says he is disappointed, but not necessarily about the law. He believes people continually bully adult entertainers. He likens his community’s situation to the plight of homosexuals, minorities, and females.

            I am in favor of the ordinance because I feel like Sexually Transmitted Infections are a public health issue and if protection can be regulated and legislated it should be. I do not believe this ordinance is picking on the industry, but I do feel county leaders are calling on the individuals to be more responsible. Furthermore, I think it is reckless to say adult film entertainers are suffering the same blight as homosexuals, minorities, and women. That is insulting because those populations have gone through and are still going through struggles for equal rights. Adult film entertainers are not denied the right to vote and they are not denied the right to marry their heterosexual partner. They likely do not have trouble getting hired or getting equal pay based on demographics. Being told to wear a condom is not the same as being told you are less of a person because of your race, gender, or sexual orientation. Furthermore, being a porn star is not something an entertainer has to do, but gender, race, and sexual orientation is not a choice.