I’m sure a lot of people are aware of the latest HIV outbreak that has hit the porn industry. For the last week I just sat back & watched how everything was handled. I’ve read many articles from different perspectives & sources across the Internet. In my opinion, some of the ‘mainstream media’ are painting this issue as though HIV originates from the porn community. Like Gucci Mane says – this is ‘Ridiculous’!
Like in most circumstances in life – people need to educate themselves before they pass along inaccurate information or falsehoods regarding the porn industry. I’m fully aware of the consequences that I face when I perform sex on camera without a condom. As should anyone..whether they are in the sex industry or not!
Though the recent HIV outbreak isn’t totally resolved, I still feel empowered to at least make informed decisions about rather I work or not. I chose not to work until I get more information regarding the involved parties. Its a fact that condom use for any sexual act including oral sex is the best course of action if you chose to engage in a sexual act with someone. Abstinence from sex is still statistically the safest way to avoid STDs & HIV. AIM Healthcare suggest we get tested every 28 days. Some performers go more often that that. I try to go every 21 days and don’t work with anyone whose test is going to expire within 7 days. Since this recent outbreak there has been a lot of talk about making all porn – condom only. I have mixed feelings about that policy and the reason why is because (within the industry) during so-called ‘condom only’ scenes the oral sex is typically done without condoms. Again..this is ‘Ridiculous’ for companies to insinuate that we are now..completely safe..its simply not true – STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea & even HIV can be contracted in the throat according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During this outbreak only 1 woman has turned up positive with HIV & 14 others were tested. Being in the industry you would think that I would know who the infected girl is – but I don’t & it makes me very uncomfortable in so many ways. First I’m not able to ask anyone who I’m thinking about working with have you or anyone you worked with had sex with the positive girl. But I was told that AIM has the situation under control. So I decided to put myself under quarantine until they find the person who gave her HIV. Right now there are so many rumors going around that its hard to dissect the truth. Mainstream media is reporting 16 positive HIV cases in porn within the last 5 years & that is not true at ALL. AIM is open to anyone who wants to get tested. According to Aim, the positives that were reported to the Department of Health had nothing to do with porn performers and these person(s) had never performed in an adult film production. Lets talk about how many new cases of HIV that turn up in the USA on a whole?
The Porn industry is a community of people that are tested more often than most people walking the streets. This definitely does not protect us any more than anyone else; but it does provide a measure of awareness regarding my partners’ STD medical status. Ensuring that I check my partners status before engaging in a sexual act is a Must in my book! 
