FSC Proud to Announce Duke To be FSC CEO, Contract Renewed Through 2015

The Board of Directors of the Free Speech Coalition is proud to announce that Diane Duke has accepted a new three-year contract to be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the adult industry’s trade association.

“Duke’s tenure with the organization is marked by extraordinary achievements,” said FSC Board President, Sidney Grief. “She has brought fiscal discipline and transparency to the Free Speech Coalition, impressing long-time critics of the organization’s operations, leading to important industry figures recommitting to our trade association.”

Some of the numerous highpoints of her leadership include directing the battle against ICM Registry’s failed .XXX top level domain; opposing the efforts by the State of California to enforce emergency room standards to adult film shoots; establishment of an effective replacement for AIM database; providing a valuable range of anti-piracy tools for studios; and organizing a broad-based coalition of business groups, HIV activists and industry leaders to fight the misguided and industry-hostile L.A. County mandatory condom initiative on the ballot this November. Duke’s poise and professionalism have helped to convey a pro-industry message to media and the public, bringing wide recognition to the organization.

“In addition to her accomplishments as the industry’s chief policy executive, her administration of FSC itself has been spectacular,” added President Grief, owner of AAA News, a successful Texas adult retail chain. “She has recruited extraordinary staff, people committed to the mission of improving the lives of the people who make up the adult industry. She has dramatically improved every aspect of the operation.”

Board Chair Jeffrey J. Douglas noted, “Duke has also brought the entire industry credibility in her relationships with non-adult interest groups and legislatures. Whether in Sacramento, Washington, D.C. or the international stage of ICANN, she is respected and admired. Diane has nurtured successful relationships long needed for the industry to thrive, including chambers of commerce, health care providers, the MPAA and financial institutions. She has inspired some of the nation’s finest lawyers to provide free or substantially discounted services to benefit the industry as a whole.  She is esteemed by the widest possible range of the disparate and often contentious leaders of the contemporary adult industry. The adult industry is privileged to have her as its principal – and principled – voice.”

The Board of Directors offers its heartiest congratulations and deepest appreciation to CEO Diane Duke.

APHSS Doctors Identify Syphilis Test with 14-Day Window Period

APHSS testing facilities can start new testing protocol immediately, alleviating need for performer syphilis treatment

After continued and exhaustive research, APHSS doctors have discovered a new test for syphilis – Treponemal EIA. This state-of-the-art test significantly shortens the window for syphilis testing from 90 days to 14 days.

Trep-Sure is the brand name of the Treponemal EIA test for syphilis that will be utilized by APHSS.org doctors. This test, manufactured by Phoenix Bio-tech Corporation, is FDA approved as a confirmatory diagnostic test for syphilis and has 99-100% levels of sensitivity and specificity.

Package Insert Information for Trep-Sure

This discovery provides the industry with a viable alternative to preventative treatment.  For performers who have had preventative treatment administered, they will still be available to work 10 days after the date treatment was administered. For performers who have not had the treatment, the waiting time to begin performing has just been reduced from 90 days to 14 days. Because of this significantly shortened window, APHSS is suspending preventative treatment and is asking performers who have not been preventatively treated to go to any APHSS provider and get tested with the new test and to get re-tested 14 days later.

Effective immediately, all APHSS providers will utilize the new Treponemal EIA test in monthly performer testing panel.

For performers who have been preventatively treated with antibiotics:

Performers who have already received a preventative shot or prescription are clear to work, with a clean panel, 10 days after receiving treatment.  That means performers who received preventative treatment on August 22, the first day treatment was provided, will be able to perform with a clean panel—that includes the new Treponemal EIA test–on September 1^st.  If they were treated on August 23^rd, they will be available on September 2^nd and so on.  Performers will be shown as available to work on the APHSS database 10 days after treatment with a clean panel that includes the new Treponemal EIA test for syphilis.

For performers who have not been preventatively treated:

Performers, who have not received preventative antibiotics, should go to any APHSS provider and take the new Treponemal EIA test.  If the test is positive, immediate treatment is available.  If the test is negative, the performer should wait 14 days and retest with the new Treponemal EIA.  With two negative Treponemal EIA tests 14 days apart, along with a cleared panel, the performer will be cleared for work.  Performers will be shown as available to work 14 days after a negative Treponemal EIA test with a clean panel that includes the new Treponemal test for syphilis.

“This is great news for the industry,” said Diane Duke FSC Executive Director. “Not only will we be able to use this test to confirm that performers are not infected and can work in a much shorter period of time, but also we will be able to identify those who may have an acute (recent) infection not recognized by the standard RPR syphilis test.   Our program has and will continue to seek out the best and latest testing and technologies for the health and well-being of our performers.”

APHSS has thousands of sites for performers to choose from nationwide.

Performers can contact any of the providers below to obtain the new Treponemal EIA test.

AMTC Advanced Medical Testing Center
Locations Nationwide, including California
(888) 511-0262
www.samedaytest.com

Cutting Edge Testing – Van Nuys, CA Location
Dr. Peter Miao MD
(818) 386-2132
5000 Van Nuys Blvd. Suite 202, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Hours: 10:00am to 5pm Mon–Fri
www.cuttingedgetesting.com

Cutting Edge Testing – Ft. Lauderdale, FL Location
2312 Wilton Dr.
Wilton Manners, FL 33305
(954) 745-6888

STD Status
Approximately 2,000 locations nationwide including many in  LA and Miami
Hours will vary by location
1-866-554-4296
www.stdstatus.com

Dr. Sean Darcy

Concierge physician available to administer tests inLos Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco to groups on site by appt.

(310) 351-8814

To sign up for the APHSS database go to APHSS.org. For any additional questions contact Joanne at 818-348-9373 or joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.

Testing, Treatments Proceed With Cooperation from Performers, Producers

Adult Production Health & Safety Services (APHSS.org) would like to update the current developments with syphilis testing and treatments for adult performers.

APHSS.org has implemented exposure protocols due to the recent incident involving performers that have tested positive for syphilis. Nearly 300 performers have been tested and treated for syphilis since August 22. These include performers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fort Lauderdale, FL and other locations nationwide.

“We would like to thank the performers and producers for their quick response to the protocols and for their cooperation,” said FSC Executive Director Diane Duke. “This situation might have resulted in even more serious repercussions if there was no program like APHSS to step in with protocols for follow-up care with doctors and, ultimately, testing and treatment. We are encouraged by the proactive action of performers and producers – with their support for the testing/treatment protocols, we have significantly minimized risk for performers.”

Testing/treatments continue to be offered this week. These developments follow reports of a widespread syphilis outbreak in Prague and Budapest, which coincide with alleged exposures here in the U.S.

Los Angeles County Public Health Department (LACPH) has stated that there are at least nine adult performers that have tested positive for syphilis, but so far APHSS.org has reported only two performers with positive results – one in Los Angeles and the other outside of California. Without data to identify any additional positive cases, the APHSS doctors network decided that preventative treatment with antibiotics was the best course to take, in order to minimize risk for exposure for performers.

“Because of the possibility of additional positive results from non-APHSS providers, after consulting with our team of doctors, it was clear that the only responsible course of action was to call a production moratorium and to follow that with testing and treatment,” Duke added.

Performer and APHSS Committee Member Danny Wylde also offered his opinion on the importance of performers to comply with the current syphilis testing/treatment protocols.

“I defend the testing and treatment protocols proposed by APHSS, including the production moratorium and prophylactic antibiotic treatment,” Wylde said. “For those who rely on performing as their primary means of income, there has been no proposed alternative to the APHSS protocol that addresses both the syphilis exposure as a concern and considers the reality that performers need to make a living.

“Many performers claim to have received medical advice from their personal physician to not accept prophylactic penicillin without explicit knowledge of infection,” Wylde added. “I cannot recommend that anyone disregard advice from their doctor. However, a performer’s personal physician has not been asked to address a community health threat to the adult performer population.”

“I respect one’s right to forego antibiotic treatment and wait out the 90-day incubation period for syphilis,” Wylde said, lastly. “But to return to work without treatment – and without knowledge of who has been exposed – is dangerous.”

Currently, all performers signed up for the APHSS database have been made “unavailable” for work. Data is being compiled that will track the ten-period after each performer has been treated; at that point, they will be marked “available” for work with a clean panel.

For more information on current developments or APHSS.org, please contact Joanne@freespeechcoaition.com or (818) 348-9373.

(Photo: Courtesy of the National Archive and Records Administration)

APHSS Meeting with L.A. County Health Official Confirms 9 Adult Performers May Have Tested Positive for Syphilis

After a meeting yesterday with L.A. County Public Health (LACPH) officials, Free Speech Coalition Executive Director Diane Duke and Adult Production Health & Safety Services (APHSS.org) representatives have received confirmation that nine as-yet-unidentified adult performers may have tested positive for syphilis.

Dr. Peter Kerndt, who is the Director of STI Programs for the County, informed Duke of the positive test results for adult performers. However, he refused to share any of the patient information with APHSS doctors, saying only that they had been reported to the County.

Kerndt also confirmed that the point of origin for the syphilis exposures has not been identified. According to Duke, only one of the two performers confirmed as positive through APHSS is part of group of nine identified by LACPH; presumably, performer Mr. Marcus, who has since gone public with positive syphilis test results. Kerndt indicated that there were positive tests for performers that likely preceded Mr. Marcus’ positive test.

Since the other of the two positive results (confirmed by APHSS) occurred outside of the state of California this would mean that, between LACPH findings and the findings of APHSS, there could be up to ten performers total that may have tested positive for syphilis.

“This latest development only confirms the need for APHSS.org as a single, comprehensive source of performer data for adult production. Had the first performer who tested positive for syphilis been reported by their healthcare provider in a timely manner to APHSS, partner notification and positive performer separation would have occurred quickly enough to reduce the likelihood of transmission and perhaps the need for a moratorium,” Duke said after the meeting.

At one point during yesterday’s meeting, the APHSS doctor was asked by Dr. Kerndt to hand over patient records – including production records – for the two performers that tested positive for syphilis, as well as patient records for all performers that have tested and received treatment for syphilis through APHSS since the production moratorium was called. Both Duke and the APHSS doctor, present at the meeting, refused to comply with this request citing respect for patient privacy.

In line with APHSS.org protocols, as well as state and local regulations, all testing facilities affiliated with APHSS.org have and will report any positive STI test results to the county health department.

“Performer privacy is a top priority for APHSS,” Duke said. “We will cooperate as much as possible with County Health officials – but only with the permission of these affected individuals, if they would like to come forward. If those individuals choose to release their information to the County, either through their medical providers or direct communication, that is their decision. APHSS providers are expected to, and do, fulfill all reporting requirements to the County. We hope to facilitate a cooperative working environment with County health officials, but will not compromise performer patient privacy.”

(Photo: Some rights reserved by Hakan Dahlstrom)

Update on Performers Confirmed Positive for Syphilis

Adult Production Health & Safety Services (APHSS.org) has received confirmation that now two performers have tested positive for syphilis. This information was received only after both performers came forward voluntarily to share information with APHSS.org, in order to cooperate with industry protocols for STI exposure incidents. The second positive result was on the gay side of the industry; not tested or residing in the state of California; and is completely unrelated to the first case. It is also interesting to note that the performer in the second case exclusively works on condom-only sets.

“Partner identification is underway and APHSS will ensure that all partners are tested and treated,” said Diane Duke, FSC Executive Director. “We encourage anyone else who may have tested positive for syphilis to contact us.”

HIPAA regulations prevent any identifying information to be released regarding these individuals.

It should be noted that while APHSS.org has only two confirmed cases, the Los Angeles Public County Health (LACPH) Department Director Dr. Jonathan Fielding has been quoted in the media, stating that there may be up to nine confirmed cases reported to county health officials, which are being investigated.

In fact, LACPH and Talent Testing Services (TTS), where these individuals presumably tested, are not obligated to share information or patient data with APHSS.org. Though APHSS.org has reached out to TTS and Dr. Fielding, they have not responded. Without the affected individuals coming forward on their own – or at the request of TTS or LACPH – APHSS.org does not have any information regarding these alleged positive cases.

It should also be noted that the “window period” for a standard RPR (syphilis) test is 90 days. Without identifying information, APHSS.org is unable to determine when these unidentified individuals may have been infected or if they may have been working while infected.

That said, APHSS.org made the decision to err of the side of caution. After consulting with doctors, including Cutting Edge Testing and infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Miao, prophylactic treatment, follow-up testing, as well as adding syphilis to the traditional performer’s monthly test panel was chosen as the best alternative for reassuring the performers of safety, in case of possible exposure.

If you have questions or require more information about the current situation, APHSS.org or treatment/testing option, please contact joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.

(Graphic: Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration)

Important Update on Performer Testing, Treatment: Where to Go and What to Do

This is an important update on syphilis treatment and testing for adult industry performers.

Testing and treatment is available at Cutting Edge Testing in Van Nuys after 1pm today. Treatment also is now being offered at their Fort Lauderdale, Florida location. VegasSTDTesting.com also is offering treatments starting Friday, August 24. Please, contact these facilities to make sure they are able to provide you with treatment prior to your visit.

For production businesses or groups of performers, we also have concierge doctor’s service, which can be arranged through Dr. Darcy. Dr. Darcy will be available in San Francisco on August 23-24. And he is available to administer shots in San Diego as well.  His contact information is (310) 351-8814; please, call for an appointment.

If you are located outside of the areas of Los Angeles, San Francisco or Fort Lauderdale and you need assistance, please contact Joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.

This recommended treatment is VOLUNTARY; APHSS advises every performer to check with producers they are working with for company policies, and also consult with a physician if they have concerns or reservations. Healthcare professionals will be available at Cutting Edge Testing and Vegas STD Testing to discuss treatment/testing options.

Performer options for work availability are:

1) Get the shot/preventative treatment* from an APHSS clinic
2) Get the shot/preventative treatment from another doctor and have them fill out the APHSS treatment form
3) Wait 90 days (if you choose not to be treated) and get a negative syphilis test after November 15

*For those allergic to penicillin and taking shots, reimbursements a available by sending a receipt for the medication and contact information.

The treatments that are being offered are as follows (to get details of each medication, click on the name):

• Bicillin LA, which is available as an one-time injection

For those allergic to penicillin:

• Doxycycline, 100 mg BID #28 (1 pill twice a day for 14 days)
• Azithromycin, 500mg (4 tablets all at one time)

To clarify, the course of treatment offered by APHSS-recommended facilities was chosen due to several factors.

First, while APHSS is aware of only two confirmed cases of performers that have tested positive for syphilis, various media have reported that Los Angeles County Public Health has identified as many as 9 cases.

Neither Talent Testing Services (TTS) nor Los Angeles County Public Health (LACPH) is obligated (and indeed is prevented by HIPAA patient privacy regulations) to share confidential patient information with APHSS.  But with patient permission, APHSS’ doctors’ network can initiate and implement a comprehensive partner notification process.  FSC has reached out to both TTS and LACPH.   TTS has declined our offer and, as of yet, LACPH has failed to respond.   Therefore, APHSS is unable to contact these allegedly positive performers in order to initiate industry protocols. The performers that APHSS has confirmed came forward on their own, in order to cooperate with industry protocols and for help with treatment.

Also, the regular test for syphilis, an RPR test, has a very large window period of 90 days, meaning that it may take 90 days for a new infection to be detected by the test. At that point, another confirmatory test must be administered in order to determine if the infection is active and levels of viral load. With no baseline of information for the identities of these cases reported by LACPH, it is impossible to determine when they may have been infected or if they may have been working during the time they were infected.

For the safety of all performers, we would rather err on the side of caution and recommend testing and treatment for everyone, thus alleviating concerns about possible exposure.

Each performer must decide which course of treatment is appropriate for themselves.

If you have questions or concerns, contact Joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.

Contact info for the participating facilities is as follows:

Cutting Edge Testing – Van Nuys, CA Location
Dr. Peter Miao MD
(818) 386-2132
5000 Van Nuys Blvd. Suite 202, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Hours: 10:00am to 5pm Mon–Fri
www.cuttingedgetesting.com

Cutting Edge Testing – Ft. Lauderdale, FL Location
2312 Wilton Dr.
Wilton Manners, FL 33305
(954) 745-6888

Vegas STD Testing (Two Locations)
Southeast Location
500 E. Windmill Lane Suite 115, Las Vegas, NV 89123
Las Vegas, NV 89123
(702) 870-1911
Monday – Friday: 9:00am to 5:30pm
Saturday – Sunday: Closed

Northwest Location
2051 N. Rainbow Blvd, Suite 100
Las Vegas, NV 89108
(702) 870-1911
Monday – Friday: 9:00am to 5:30pm
Saturday – Sunday: Closed
www.VegasSTDTesting.com

APHSS Update on Performer Testing, Treatment and Locations

APHSS.org testing facilities expect to have supplies for the prophylactic syphilis treatment at their facilities as early as tomorrow, Wednesday, August 22.

Cutting Edge Testing in Fort Lauderdale is expecting to be ready by Wednesday morning, while the Van Nuys location should be supplied by Wednesday afternoon. Please , contact the facilities before arriving, to make sure they are ready to start administering testing and treatment.

VegasSTDTesting.com also will be able to provide treatment in the Las Vegas area.

For agents and producers in the Los Angeles area that have a number of performers and would like to provide treatments on site, APHSS has a concierge doctor who can come to your location. Contact Dr. Darcy at (310) 351-8814 to schedule a time for the doctor to provide this service. Dr Darcy can also service San Francisco and San Diego – if you are located in those areas, please contact Dr. Darcy to set up treatment.

If you are  a performer and unable to access treatment because of your location or other issues, please contact Joanne@freespeechcoalition.com or contact (818) 348-9373.

Contact information for locations where performers can go for treatment is listed below:

Cutting Edge Testing – Van Nuys, CA Location
Dr. Peter Miao MD
(818) 386-2132
5000 Van Nuys Blvd. Suite 202, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Hours: 10:00am to 5pm Mon–Fri
www.cuttingedgetesting.com

Cutting Edge Testing – Ft. Lauderdale, CA Location
2312 Wilton Dr.
Wilton Manners, FL 33305
(954) 745-6888

 

Vegas STD Testing (Two Locations)
Southeast Las Vegas Location
500 E. Windmill Lane Suite 115, Las Vegas, NV 89123
Las Vegas, NV 89123
(702) 870-1911
Monday – Friday: 9:00am to 5:30pm
Saturday – Sunday: Closed

Northwest Las Vegas Location
2051 N. Rainbow Blvd, Suite 100
Las Vegas, NV 89108
(702) 870-1911
Monday – Friday: 9:00am to 5:30pm
Saturday – Sunday: Closed
www.VegasSTDTesting.com

Update on Production Moratorium, Performer Testing

As a result of a performer testing positive for syphilis, APHSS.org providers are administering the standard RPR syphilis test that is approved by the FDA for preliminary diagnosis. A negative test does NOT mean the performer is approved to work. It is important to note that this test has a large window period — as much as 90 days — and therefore cannot be relied upon to diagnose an acute (recent) syphilis infection. More importantly, a person with an acute infection can be contagious and still test negative. We cannot rely on these tests alone to determine a performer’s availability to work. This test only provides our doctors a baseline from which to base further testing or treatment options.

FSC has called a temporary moratorium on production and asks that all producers honor this moratorium.

Syphilis is easily treatable—it requires treatment with antibiotics. APHSS’ doctors network has determined that prophylactic treatment for syphilis for all performers is warranted. The shots have been ordered from the pharmacy and within the next couple of days, APHSS.org will have set up a network of medical professionals to administer the shots. Locations for performers to get the shots will be announced by tomorrow, August 21. Once the performer receives antibiotics, he or she will be available to work within 10 days.

Finally, our doctor’s network is speaking with expert microbiologists to determine if there is a test that can be utilized to identify the presence of an acute infection of syphilis. If such a test exists, this test will be administered when the performer comes in for prophylactic treatment, in order to provide additional information.

Manwin has agreed to cover cost of the shots for performers. Other producers contributing to cover the cost of treatment include, Evil Angel, Girlfriend Films, Kink.com, Vivid Pictures, and Gamma Entertainment. Still more producers are offering to contribute – this is an industry-wide effort by producers to ensure the safety of the performers. We greatly appreciate the cooperation and contributions of involved parties at this time.

“I always appreciate how our industry comes together in a time of need,” said FSC Executive Director Diane Duke. “Clearly our industry’s priority is the health and well-being of our performers. Thank you to all of the producers who have and will contribute and thanks to all of you for honoring the moratorium.”

The APHSS.org (Adult Production Health & Safety Services) program is operated by FSC. For more information on APHSS.org, please contact Joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.

(Graphic: Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration)

 

FSC Calls for a Temporary Moratorium on Production Nationwide

A performer who tested positive for syphilis has been in touch with FSC and is meeting with FSC’s medical professionals to begin partner identification, evaluation and treatment. FSC has called a temporary moratorium on production until the risk to performers in the industry has been properly assessed and all performers have been tested.

APHSS’ doctors have met and discussed the best avenue to protect the performers and have determined that testing the entire population is the most prudent strategy. A determination will be made by the doctors on the appropriate time to lift the moratorium as more information is revealed.

FSC encourages any performer who may have tested positive for syphilis to contact FSC’s Executive Director, Diane Duke at diane@freespeechcoalition.com or 818-348-9373 and FSC will make sure the performer receives immediate medical support including confidential partner identification and treatment.

FSC will provide daily updates on the situation to the industry through press releases and our APHSS blog.

(Graphic: Some rights reserved by AzaToth)

The Los Angeles Condom Mandate: A Radio Debate with FSC’s Diane Duke and AHF’s Michael Weinstein

Controversy over the Los Angeles Safer Sex in Adult Films “condom” ordinance is heating up. The mandate, which is already in effect as an ordinance in the City of Los Angeles, is also up for a countywide vote in November. If passed, the County of Los Angeles will create a new agency to enforce mandatory use of barrier protection (condoms, eye protection, dental dams, gloves, et al) on adult production sets. A report outlining possible enforcement plans for the ordinance was submitted to the City Administrator on August 15th. These are the latest developments in the campaign for condom legislation, waged by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) since 2009.

FSC Executive Director Diane Duke debated AHF President Michael Weinstein this week, live on KPCC. Listen here. Also interviewed in this piece on Airtalk; City Administrator Miguel Santana.

Free Speech Coalition has led the opposition against this ordinance, which is overly broad, impossible to enforce and faces constitutional challenges. The legislation is the brainchild of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the world’s largest HIV nonprofit – as well as a deep-pocketed, outside entity that has relentlessly attacked adult industry businesses on behalf of “protecting the performers.” AHF’s legal actions were a direct factor in the closure of the AIM clinicin 2010, the adult industry’s nonprofit resource for STI testing. In fact, AHF’s misguided campaign has endangered the performers.

There have been more than 6,000 new cases of HIV in Los Angeles since 2008; there have been two documented cases of adult performers contracting HIV since 2008 and neither was reported to be in relation to work on an adult production set. The industry has implemented health & safety protocols and complied with self-regulation successfully since 1998.

FSC has worked with industry stakeholders, compliance experts, attorneys, representatives of Cal-OSHA to try and develop industry appropriate standards. FSC also operates the Adult Production Health & Safety Services (APHSS.org) program, to offer reliable monthly STI testing for performers and uphold industry self-regulation standards based on the work of the AIM clinic. Our system is a secure information database that safeguards user privacy, working with a network of established healthcare providers nationwide.

At a time when the state of California and the county of Los Angeles face serious budgetary reductions, we believe it is irresponsible to support or approve of a legislative mandate that will only result in a poorly written law and more funds spent in litigation when the ordinance is challenged.

Lastly, when an activity is outlawed, it is not eliminated but driven underground, where regulation and cooperation become near impossible. The twisted efforts of Weinstein and AHF to eliminate the adult production industry – under the guise of working for the greater good – is dangerous grandstanding based on stereotypes and scare tactics. AHF vilifies adult industry producers as exploitive, the same way that people once stigmatized HIV+ individuals as vectors of disease. Which group will they attack next, in their zeal to “protect” by mandating sexual behavior?

Please, support our efforts to say NO to this ballot initiative; its ballot identification number is to be announced.

If you would like to learn more about the Los Angeles condom ordinance, contact joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.

(Photo: Courtesy of Nickpo)