A relatively new adult performer named Cameron Bay has tested positive for HIV antibodies, and has gone back in for further tests to confirm whether this means she actually has the virus or not, according to XBiz. The Free Speech Coalition has called for a moratorium on all filming until–at least–the results are in and, if she’s infected, all of the people (the “first generation” of contacts) she’s worked with have also been retested. So far everything seems to be hunky-dory.
Right now everything is up in the air, including all the paychecks adult performers were hoping to get for the next month or so. I won’t get too deep into the many, many thoughts I have on this situation until more is known. But a few thoughts:
1) Cameron Bay is being really brave and open about all this. She and her agent are both talking with the media in really up-front ways. That’s cool. Keeping this stuff in the dark just gets the media (mainstream and otherwise) worked up into a frenzy and the rumors start to fly. Taking control of it is a good idea, but one that few can handle. Kudos to her!
2) It occurs to me that when this kind of thing happens–which it really rarely does when put into perspective–the news of “another adult performer with HIV!” spreads fast and causes all kinds of pundits to talk and write and blah blah blah… And it reflects quite poorly on the industry, further shunting performers off into the dirk corner in which we like to keep them. But the truth of the matter is that most of the time, diseases come into the industry from unprotected sex that performers have outside the industry. This is a personal decision that they make that hits everyone around them and affects thousands of people, and it sucks. But it’s not an industry-wide problem. It’s an outside-the-industry problem.
3) The industry self-polices very strictly. New testing protocols were recently put into place to make the testing procedures even more rigorous than before. Performers are tested anywhere from every two weeks toe very thirty days for a wide variety of STIs. Lest ye watch porn online and think, “Oh man they’re taking advantage of that poor person!” remember that the poor person in question didn’t just get talked into doing that scene–he/she/they had to present all kinds of valid identification, sign paperwork, and go through blood and piss tests before showing up on set and getting their makeup done.
4) Furthermore, let’s take a second to think about how hardcore the porn industry is being about this situation. It’s not even confirmed yet whether this performer has HIV or not, but everyone has already voluntarily shut down operations until more is known. Everyone has stopped working–and stopped making money (shall I remind you that porn performers and crew members do not make residuals on their work?) because they all respect the danger and the rules, which aren’t even regulated. What other industry can you think of that has that much respect for the health and safety of its workers? None? Me neither. Porn’s got a lot of moral high ground over the rest of us. No matter what happens from here on out, keep that in mind.