FSC Rolls Out Plans for Adult Production Health & Safety Services

(l tor) Dr. Richwald, Diane Duke and Christian Mann

Yesterday at a meeting for industry stakeholders, Free Speech Coalition rolled out plans for Adult Production Health & Safety Services (APHSS). The program is being developed to fill the gap left by the closure of the AIM clinic earlier this month.

The meeting opened with comments from FSC Board member and Evil Angel general manager Christian Mann, who explained the components of APHSS, and how the program would address important issues, including setting up sexually-transmitted infection testing protocol and standards; providing a choice of facilities for reliable testing and follow-up healthcare for performers; and the creation of a secured database, with limited access for producers and talent agents in order to ensure user privacy as much as possible. The swift implementation of the APHSS program will provide services that were provided by AIM, and build from there, for an improved system of self-regulation and increased resources for industry members.

Mann cited several adult producers that have agreed to support the APHSS program, including Wicked Pictures, Reality Kings, Evil Angel, Jules Jordan, Vivid Entertainment, Hustler and Girlfriends Films.

Mann urged industry unity – noting that with an opportunity to rebuild the former STI testing system, development of APHSS would result in positive change for all industry members, while also confronting the challenges to the industry that have resulted from scrutiny by CalOSHA, as well as anti-industry entities that have long questioned the ability of the industry to provide self-regulation.

“Everyone has a stake in this,” Mann said. “We are stronger if we are united to protect performers and our businesses.”

FSC Executive Director Diane Duke then gave an overview of the APHSS program set-up.

APHSS Program features include:

• Creation of a database for producers and agents to verify performers’ availability. The information to be shared with producers will include ONLY legal names, a membership number, and availability status indicated with a “yes” or “no.” There will be no medical records contained in the database. PERFORMERS CAN PRE-REGISTER FOR THE DATABASE NOW BY GOING TO http://www.freespeechcoalition.com/aphss/
• Performers’ personal medical records will be available to performers from APHSS-recommended testing facilities/healthcare providers and will be accessible electronically or in hard copy.Protocol for follow-up medical treatments will be established, with attention given to standards for proper ethical treatment of the performers.
• The costs for performers to use the APHSS database will be $50 annually; FSC member-producers will pay $150 monthly, non-members can access the database for a $250 fee. All database user will be vetted for security clearance through the FSC.
• STI testing fees for a performers’ panel are expected to range from $130-$150, in locations available nationwide.
• APHSS will have an advisory committee made up of a medical consultant, a legal consultant (attorney Karen Tynan has been designated for this position), a producer representative, a talent agent, and three performers. Their function will be to provide feedback and guidance in addressing production health and safety issues.
• In Phase Two of APHSS Program implementation, an educational component will be added, to ensure that the overall performing population is well-informed on STI information, and industry related health & safety concerns and protocol.

Proposed medical consultant Dr. Gary Richwald also spoke at yesterday’s meeting. Dr. Richwald MD, MPH is a clinical virologist and communicable disease expert, and served as Director and Chief Physician of L.A. County STD program from 1989-2000. His goal is to bring an extensive background in social medicine to the APHSS program, serve in his role as a mediator between the industry and public health organizations, and also develop appropriate sexual health protocols for the adult community.

“Cooperation and collaboration are what create good health,” Dr. Richwald said.

FSC Board member and Kink.com founder Peter Acworth addressed database technology and security, with expertise from operation of his adult online business since 1998. He explained the database interface and structure through a slide presentation.

After the presentation, the floor was opened to questions from attendees. The discussion was lively, with comments from director Brad Armstrong, Girlfriends Films owner Dan O’Connell, respected performer Nina Hartley and her husband and director Ernest Green, and agent Mark Spiegler.

Development of APHSS has been carried out as quickly as possible, since the closure of AIM less than four weeks ago. The launch date for the database and announcement of recommended testing providers is projected to be mid-June, and appointments of the APHSS advisory committee should be announced by June 30.

FSC would like to thank industry members that have contributed to help with the APHSS program. Our appreciation goes out to both Christian Mann and Peter Acworth for generously giving their time, as well as the services of Kink.com and Evil Angel staff. XBIZ.com owner Alec Helmy also has been instrumental in helping to develop the soon-to be launched APHSS website. Attorneys Karen Tynan and Jeffrey Douglas also have contributed their hard work to program development. We appreciate the work of IT specialist Tanguy de Courson and graphic artist Jason Harter, in helping with the database design and structure.

Special thanks to Wicked Pictures and Girlfriends Films for their continued generosity.

Performers can pre-register for the APHSS database now by going to http://www.freespeechcoalition.com/aphss/ and following the directions. The data gathered in the pre-registration period will be used to populate the database once it is launched. Producer pre- registration will be announced as soon as possible.

From more information on APHSS or FSC, please contact joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.

(Photo courtesy AVN.com/Mark Kernes)

FSC Will Outline Production Health Database, Services at Thursday Meeting

Free Speech Coalition will outline details for Adult Production Health and Safety Services (APHSS) at an industry-wide meeting scheduled for this Thursday. The new program has been created to fill the gap left by the closure of the AIM clinic earlier this month.

Producers, performers and any industry members with concerns about production health and safety issues are encouraged to attend. FSC Executive Director Diane Duke will explain the APHSS rollout, and FSC Board members Peter Acworth (Kink.com) and Christian Mann (Evil Angel) also will discuss aspects of the new database, APHSS advisory board, testing facilities and health protocols. Performer privacy issues will be addressed.

“We encourage industry members to attend Thursday’s meeting and learn about the new program, as well as ask questions. Performers and producers will have a chance to fill out applications for the database,” FSC Executive Director Diane Duke said.

“This meeting is also important because we will have information on the CalOSHA Advisory Committee meeting to be held in Los Angeles on June 7,” Duke added. “That may be the last public CalOSHA meeting to discuss adult production health and safety, before the committee makes suggestions for new regulations that are expected to be handed down in September. We encourage industry members to attend that meeting, also.”

The APHSS meeting is to be held this Thursday, May 26, at 1pm, at the Sportsmen’s Lodge located at 12833 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604. This meeting is for industry members only and is not open to the general public.

Following the meeting at 3:30pm, a press conference will be held in the same location.

Media representatives will have an opportunity to interview Gary A. Richwald, MD MPH, who has been proposed for APHSS Medical Consultant.

Dr. Richwald is a public health and communicable disease expert. For 12 years from 1989 to 2000, Dr. Richwald served as the Director and Chief Physician of the Los Angeles County STD Program, the largest provider of sexual health and disease prevention-related services in California.

Attorney Karen Tynan will be available at the press conference. She will serve on the APHSS Advisory Board as its workplace safety attorney. Tynan has extensive expertise in the area of OSHA litigation and has been working with adult production companies, agents, and other entertainment companies to defeat subpoenas, appeal citations, and litigate injunctions during the past two years.

Duke, Acworth and Mann will also be available to answer questions at the press conference.

If you are an industry member and would like to attend the meeting or need more information, please, contact joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.

 

FSC Calls for Industry-Wide Meeting on Production Health Services

Free Speech Coalition is calling all industry stakeholders to a meeting to preview plans for Adult Production Health & Safety Services (APHSS). Performers, producers, agents and other industry members that are concerned with STD testing protocols and workplaces safety are encouraged to attend. Media will be allowed to attend an exclusive press conference, following the meeting.

The meeting is scheduled for May 26, at 1pm, at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City, with press conference following at 3:30pm in the same location. The address is 12833 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA, 91604.

“FSC has been in contact with numerous industry professionals and sexual health providers. Together, we are developing a solid program that will fill in the gaps resulting from AIM’s closure,” FSC Executive Director Diane Duke. “If you’re affected by the production side of the industry this is an essential meeting for you to attend.”

An agenda for the meeting is to be announced. Information will be released to industry media outlets, as well as on the FSC Blog, Facebook and Twitter @FSCArmy.

This is an open meeting for industry members only. Members of the general public will not be permitted to attend.

If you are an industry member or a media representative and planning to attend, please send an email to joanne@freespeechcoalition.com , so that FSC can estimate how many will be in attendance.

(Photo courtesy of BZiL)

FSC Moves Ahead with Plans for Production Health & Safety Services

As a result of conversations with adult industry producers, agents and performers, and in response to the closing of AIM, the Free Speech Coalition’s Board of Directors has voted to support the creation of APHSS (Adult Performers Health and Safety Services). This entity will focus on performer health and safety and coordinate heath protocols and services for adult productions. Included in this effort will be:

• Selection of high quality, industry-friendly and affordable testing and treatment facilities for adult performers
• Provision of a secure database to provide information to performers and producers on performer availability based on industry protocol
• Provision of resources for compliance with workplace safety procedures for producer
• Provision of training about STI prevention and treatment for performers
• Creation of a six-person advisory board to assist with adult production health and safety policy and oversight. The Board will consist of three performers, one attorney, one sexual health expert and one producer
• Coordination of industry practices and protocols concerning health and safety for adult productions

FSC next week will announce the time and date for a combined meeting of producers, directors, performers and agents. The details of APHSS will be discussed at that meeting as well as APHSS’ expected launch date.

FSC Responds to Closure of AIM

Last week Free Speech Coalition (FSC) was made aware that AIM Medical Associates (AIM) was in danger of closing its doors. In order to avoid a significant gap in health services for performers, FSC has drawn up preliminary strategies to fill the gap with possible options for performer testing protocols. The FSC Board of Directors will meet tomorrow for an emergency meeting to consider options.

“It is our understanding that AIM is now closed. Our hearts go out to AIM and its dedicated staff. We know that it has been a very difficult time for them,” FSC Executive Director Diane Duke said. “Rest assured that FSC is committed to making sure that the industry and its performers are well-protected.”

Last Friday, FSC conducted three separate meetings for producers, agents and performers to gather feedback and discuss options with industry stakeholders. The response from those meetings was successful in gathering suggestions from industry members on which options to pursue and for taking action.

AIM has suffered a two-year campaign waged by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and is currently a defendant in litigation associated with AHF involving patient medical privacy. AHF also has struck out at several companies and talent agents in their attempt to mandate condom use on adult sets.

FSC has been working with industrial safety regulation agency CalOSHA to develop industry-appropriate regulations for adult production sets. The next CalOSHA Committee meeting addressing regulations for the adult industry will take place in Los Angeles on June 7. The meeting is open to the public, and scheduled to be held at the CalTrans Building in downtown Los Angeles, at 100 Main Street (at the corner of 1^st and Main).

(Photo: Some rights reserved by Jasoon)

Update: CalOSHA, AHF’s Campaign to Mandate Condoms

Since 2009, AIDS Healthcare Foundation has been waging a campaign against the adult industry in order to mandate regulations for condom use on adult production sets.

Shortly after AHF began filing complaints against AIM (AIM Medical Associates), several adult industry talent agencies and production companies, FSC started working with CalOSHA to develop industry-appropriate regulation. In an effort to protect the rights and safety of performers and the business interests of adult industry producers, we have been working with OSHA compliance experts, industry stakeholders and CalOSHA to develop new regulations.

One of the complaints filed by AHF in September has resulted in Hustler/LFP being fined more than $14,000 for violating condom regulations, and Forsaken Productions cited for more than $12,000 in violations.

“CalOSHA is once again responding to complaints, not from performers, but from AHF – a media-hungry nonprofit famous for frivolous lawsuits, preposterous protests and perpetual press conferences, ” said FSC Executive Director Diane Duke. “At a time when the adult entertainment industry is working, in earnest, to develop industry-appropriate regulations, CalOSHA would do well to stay away from this kind of political grandstanding.”

If you are seeking information about the latest on CalOSHA and proposed workplace safety regulations, please contact (818) 348-9373, or joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.

Also, FSC has an exclusive publication available to members, and for a small fee to other industry businesses: “Health and Safety Manual for Adult Businesses,” which gives you information on compliance with basic CalOSHA regulations and can be kept on-hand at your office or worksite.

The next medical meeting of CalOSHA’s Board of Directors addressing adult industry regulation, will be held on June 7th, at CalTrans building, 100 S. Main St. in downtown Los Angeles, at 10am. This meeting is open to the public.

FSC will continue to update the latest developments with CalOSHA, Please, follow us here at the FSC Blog, or @FSCArmy.

(Photo: Courtesy of Gariey Sia)

AIM’s Sharon Mitchell Speaks Out

In an article posted today on the L.A. Daily News website, Adult Industry Medical Healthcare (AIM) founder Sharon Mitchell spoke out on the recent developments with the clinic and the campaign that she claims is being waged against AIM by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the L.A. County Department of Public Health (LACPH).

“I really can’t stress enough that this has been a conspiracy, and I don’t know if that’s the right word,” Mitchell said in the interview, describing the actions taken by both AHF and county health over the last two years.

AHF spokesperson Ged Kenslea responded by calling Mitchell’s claims false and stated, “We’d be happy to have a clinic that services the adult entertainment industry.

“But we’d actually like them to be competent and honor the laws of California with regard to what they need to do to protect patient health and provide relevant information to local public health officials in a timely basis – frankly, neither of which AIM seems willing and able to do at this point,” Kenslea added.

Kenslea also was quoted in a Sept. 2010 article posted at CaliforniaWatch.org, regarding a situation where AHF was implicated in violating privacy rights of patients when state insurance agency MediCal illegally disclosed HIV-positive patients’ information, in order for the organization to offer services to 5,000 individuals. Both the ACLU and two other HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations made claims that MediCal had illegally breached privacy laws in disclosing the results of HIV tests. MediCal’s 2007 $1M contract with AHF was subsequently terminated.

In today’s L.A. Daily News article, LACPH  Director Dr. Jonathan Fielding was quoted as saying, “I don’t think there’s pressure to shut the clinic, but I hope the industry feels pressure to do the right thing. Nobody should have to work in an environment where they subject themselves to life-threatening illness.”

AHF also has filed complaints with regulatory agency CalOSHA against numerous adult industry businesses in its campaign to mandate condom use on adult production sets. And recently, at a “Condoms in the Adult Industry” seminar hosted at UCLA, representatives from AHF, LACPH, Pink Cross Foundation, UCLA’s Center for Reproductive Health, and Free Speech Coalition (FSC) met to discuss the topic of regulation on adult industry production sets. – jc

Cartagena, Patient Zeta and Who Do YOU Want Running Your Industry?

What a week, last week.

Between the ongoing campaign waged against the adult industry by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), and the 10-year struggle to defeat the proposed .XXX sTLD – today seems like the aftermath of a siege staged on multiple fronts with a nonstop barrage of bullshit bombs being lobbed by our opponents. We are still trying to dig ourselves out from under the debris.

And this week, more than ever, we would like to ask the question: Who do YOU want calling the shots for the adult industry? People that are your colleagues and represent your better business interests? Or people like ICM’s Stuart Lawley and AHF’s Michael Weinstein?

On the AHF front – seems like strange timing that on Dec 9th, Patient Zeta, aka Derrick Burts/Cameron Reid/Derrick Chambers, would go public AND within 24 hours, Adult Industry Medical Healthcare (AIM) was shuttered by the county over a paperwork issue.

And while the LA Times took advantage of sensational headlines and published Burts’ tawdry confessional via video verbatim, the LA Weekly raised some interesting questions, including whether or not the adult industry was in danger of being run out of California. LA Weekly writer Dennis Romero also asked some questions as to the credibility of Burts’ claims – like any skeptical journalist might.

On the 13th, AHF President Michael Weinstein praised LA City Councilman Bill Rosendahl for making a motion to the city attorney for an explanation of the process the city’s employs to make sure that adult production sets are “safe workplaces” before being issued necessary permits. Weinstein also wrongly stated that FSC and FSC Executive Director Diane Duke called for “the industry [i.e. AIM and adult production studios] to continue to operate outside the law.”

FSC’s position is the same as it’s ever been – we are working with lawyers, CalOSHA’s Board of Directors, experts in regulatory procedure, industry businesses and INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS to help develop industry-appropriate regulations. If adult content producers are “operating outside the law” whatsoever, it’s likely because the regulations imposed on them were written for medical clinics, not adult production sets. We are calling for regulations that are appropriate and acceptable to concerned parties. Mr. Weinstein seems interested in calling attention to his campaign.

And as for AIM “operating outside the law,” it quickly was apparent that the clinic was briefly closed due to a paperwork error. AIM has until the end of January to correct the error, according to a letter issued by the county. Not exactly the perfect storm of opposition against AIM that Weinstein seems to want to call down on the clinic and spin for his own purposes.

Meanwhile, FSC’s Diane Duke and FSC Board Chair Jeffrey Douglas were in Cartagena, Columbia, when Patient Zeta broke his silence – another bit of strange timing.

The pair were there to oppose the .XXX “sponsored” Top Level Domain, proposed by Internet registry ICM and its President Stuart Lawley. We are happy to report that, after battling against approval of the domain for ten years, Internet regulatory organization ICANN decide on Friday to put off any decision until it can consult with its Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC).

Some blogs today say that a decision won’t be made until ICANN’s next meeting in February. And, surprisingly, some newspapers are reporting, complete with quotes from Lawley, that .XXX was passed – specifically, papers located in Florida where ICM is based.

Well, we can say that we are certain .XXX has not been approved as of last week. And we hope that it is never approved because it will provide no benefit to the thousands of adult webmasters that will have to pay fees for domain addresses that they don’t want; that .XXX will make it much easier for anti-adult entities to block adult websites; and it will be easier for underage users to locate adult material. And that’s just for starters. It sets a dangerous precedent to classify domains by content, and for fees from those domain addresses to go to fund a regulatory board that gets to call the shots in regards to that content.

Over here at the FSC, one of our mottoes is an old one: “The truth will set you free.” And while some industry members may not have warm and fuzzy feelings for FSC or may not understand what we do over here – we hope that you can see that we are working hard to defend your rights, promote your better business interest and protect your businesses and way of life. Because there are people out there that have their own agendas and could profit from targeting the industry with weapons of mass confusion.

As the adult industry trade association, we are a pro-adult voice for the industry to our opponents, the media and the public at large. And without a voice, you might not have a choice. We should mention here that the 2011-12 FSC Board of Directors election is now taking place; if you are an active FSC member and have not received you ballot, please contact joanne@freespeechcoalition.com. This your opportunity to choose who will represent you, as the industry faces many challenges.

Last, but not the least bit of news from last week – sadly, on December 5th, legendary performer/director John Leslie (aka John Leslie Nuzzo) passed away. Many touching tributes were written about Leslie but in the Marin Independent Journal, a quote from his wife Kathleen stood out, as she commented on his career.

“I never had a problem when I met him with what he did,” Kathleen Nuzzo said of her husband’s career. “It was our livelihood. It’s an incredible industry with people fighting for First Amendment rights and freedom of expression.”

Thank you Mrs. Nuzzo. They had been married for 23 years.

A memorial for John Leslie will be held at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City, CA, on Dec. 15 at 7pm. – jc

(Photo: Some rights reserved by James Yardley)

Statement from Adult Industry Medical Healthcare (AIM) on Patient Zeta, LA Times Article

Adult Industry Medical Healthcare (AIM) has issued this statement concerning the article this morning in the LA Times (please refer to our earlier blog post). In an effort to keep industry members and concerned parties informed on the latest events, we are posting AIM’s statement here:

“Despite Patient Zeta’s self-identification and sharing of information regarding HIV status and test results and the HIV status of a person identified as a girlfriend, AIM is bound by California and Federal statutes to protect the medical privacy of patients and AIM remains committed to providing screening and testing services to performers as well as our civilian population while maintaining medical privacy.

AIM’s statements made to the media and every report to the California Department of Public Health were based upon the information provided by Patient Zeta to AIM.  As part of AIM’s standard protocols, Patient Zeta was offered counseling, documentation of test results, and information and direction regarding resources and treatment.  Any statements made by Patient Zeta which portray AIM as not providing appropriate and proper services are not truthful and are self-serving.

Aids Healthcare Foundation, has a history of aggressive and hostile actions against AIM, and the most distressing aspect of this situation is that Patient Zeta is simply being manipulated for AHF’s own purposes and in furtherance of their agenda.”