An actor whose HIV positive test sparked a shutdown of US porn filmmaking in October lashed out at the multi-billion dollar business and an industry clinic for failing to help him.
At an emotional press conference, Derrick Burts, 24, also called for the use of condoms to be mandatory and enforced, saying that regular monthly tests are not enough to keep porn actors safe.
He notably slammed the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation (AIM), a clinic for performers in the porn industry based in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles, which he says left him untreated for a month and a half.
“People who are behind the industry, the big shots, they need to come up with a system that works, that protects their performers,” said Mr Burts, speaking for the first time since the scare erupted.
Repeatedly breaking down in tears, he added: “This is a multi-billion dollar industry, and they can’t reach out when somebody tests positive.. there needs to be more done.”
At least four major film producers suspended filming in October while tests were carried out on all the known partners of the actor. Production resumed a few weeks later.
Mr Burts said he had only worked in the porn industry for seven months before being told during a routine test at the AIM clinic on October 8 that he had contracted the HIV virus, which leads to AIDS.
Previously he had worked as a magician on cruise ships travelling around the world, and as a manager for Marriott hotels, he said.
Singling out the San Fernando Valley clinic for criticism, he said: “AIM likes to state that testing is enough to protect the performers from getting STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) and HIV.
“That’s completely false. Testing doesn’t do anything except inform you of what you have, or don’t have. The real protection comes from protecting yourself with a condom,” he added.
Speaking earlier to the Los Angeles Times newspaper he said: “The fact that there’s a lack of condom use in porn, which is a very high risk job, is very dangerous.”
“One reason I definitely wanted to speak out was to help other (porn) performers realise the risk that’s out there,” he added.
He was speaking at the headquarters of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which he said he turned to when AIM failed help him find treatment a month and a half after his positive test.
Its chief Michael Weinstein said his government-funded foundation was not against pornography.
“However, we are astounded that the multi-billion dollar film industry and its fig leaf of a clinic could not even get it together six weeks after his first HIV positive test to link him to appropriate follow-up medical care.” The day after Mr Burts made his announcement, the AIM clinic was ordered closed. It lacked the correct license to operate as a medical clinic, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
“By state law, all facilities that provide medical services are regulated by the state to ensure that they meet appropriate standards to provide medical care,” local health officials said in a statement.“AIM does not have a license to operate a medical clinic. Today’s cease-and-desist order means that AIM must stop providing medical services until it has obtained the appropriate license from the state.”
There was no immediate reaction from AIM to the closure order, although it claimed Mr Burts’s comments were “not truthful and are self-serving,” saying he was being “manipulated” by another AIDS group.
The order to close the clinic was welcomed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which slammed AIM for its slow response to the AIDS threat in the porn industry.
“After years of total inaction, Los Angeles County officials have finally shut down AIM – the porn industry’s sham clinic,” Mr Weinstein said.
“Now it’s time for the county to go after the producers themselves who have been operating with impunity outside the law. Public health officials must shut down every permitted adult film shoot in Los Angeles County until the industry complies with state and federal laws requiring condom use,” he added.