Porn industry stopped by HIV scare

The billion-dollar Californian porn industry was facing crisis today with production stopped by an HIV scare.

More than six companies have halted work, and more are expected to follow, after a leading actor tested positive for the virus.

Their identity and sex have not been released by the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation, the clinic where the case was discovered. The clinic was working to identify and test on-screen partners of the actor.

Health officials have said the widespread lack of condom use on porn sets puts performers at risk of contracting HIV and other diseases. Adult film producers have said viewers find condoms to be a turn-off.

Vivid Entertainment Group and Wicked Pictures were among the companies that announced production halts.

"From Vivid's perspective, there was no question that when we heard this, we immediately shut down production and said let's get the facts and evaluate them before we move forward," Steven Hirsch, founder of Vivid, one of the largest makers of adult films, said Wednesday.

"Adult entertainment companies act responsibly, and no one wants to see another person test positive if there's anything they can do to stop it," he said.

Actors in movies by Wicked Pictures use condoms. But company president Steve Orenstein said two shoots were on hold and production depends on further HIV test results from a clinic that serves the industry.

PinkVisual Productions is also due to halt production for at least a few weeks. Adult Video News reported additional shutdowns at Hustler Video, Digital Playground, Jennaration X Studios, Girlfriends Films and Kick Ass Pictures.

"We strongly feel that condom use should be required in this industry; just like a construction worker wouldn't go into a construction site without a hard hat, an adult industry performer should not be having sexual acts unprotected without a condom," said Dr Robert Kim-Farley, the communicable disease director of the Los Angeles County Public Health Department. .

Last year, a woman tested positive for HIV after making an adult film, and in 2004 an HIV outbreak affecting several actors spread panic in the industry and briefly shut down productions at several California studios.

In recent years, advocates and health officials have argued with porn producers and free speech advocates over the use of condoms in adult films.

Health and safety officials are considering strengthening rules designed to prevent transmission of disease by requiring the use of condoms in the films.

In an average month, Vivid spends 250,000 dollars to shoot four movies, which require a total of 12 to 15 days Mr Hirsch said.

Mark Kernes, senior editor at Adult Video News, said he expects most production companies to shut down until it's known who had contact with the person known to have HIV.