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LOS ANGELES - County health officials sent letters to producers and directors in the porn industry, urging them to use condoms during sex scenes as part of a stepped-up effort to prevent a repeat of April's HIV outbreak. The letters, which began arriving this week, come as state lawmakers have threatened possible legislation to mandate the use of condoms in porn productions.

Associated Press 10-08-04

LOS ANGELES - County health officials sent letters to producers and directors in the porn industry, urging them to use condoms during sex scenes as part of a stepped-up effort to prevent a repeat of April's HIV outbreak.

The letters, which began arriving this week, come as state lawmakers have threatened possible legislation to mandate the use of condoms in porn productions.

The letters also urged the industry to vaccinate performers for hepatitis A and B.

Last month, the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health fined two Van Nuys companies $30,560 each for allegedly permitting their actors to engage in unprotected sex. The fines were levied based on regulations requiring employers to protect workers exposed to bodily fluids.

The companies, Evasive Angles and TTB Productions, have appealed.

The government has been frustrated with the industry's failure to take steps to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

In April, four actors were identified as having HIV and the industry was temporarily shutdown.

Before the outbreak, 17 percent of the region's porn actors used condoms, according to the nonprofit Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation. The use of condoms increased for a short period but has since returned to its pre-April level.

About 200 producers, most of them based in the San Fernando Valley, make thousands of adult movies a year. Many involve unprotected sex because they say on-screen condom use spoils the fantasy for viewers and results in lower sales - though condoms generally are used in gay adult movies. Others say shooting scenes with condoms take longer.

For now, condom use remains voluntary.

"We think this is a matter of worker protection," said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of the county's Department of Health Services. "We don't have the authority to enforce this, so this is our recommendation."

But that may change.

In August, Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, issued a letter warning the industry to begin using condoms voluntarily or face possible future legislation that would mandate their use.

Industry leaders "can't ignore the fact that the issue is under the microscope of the government," said Sharon Mitchell, executive director of the Adult Industry foundation.