Successful advocacy for condoms in adult films: We won! now what?

In November 2012, Los Angeles (LA) County voted yes on Measure B, the Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act, to require condoms during vaginal and anal sex acts in all adult films. In response, the adult film industry (AFI) submitted a lawsuit claiming Measure B violated free speech. Although researchers found one in three performers are infected with gonorrhea and/or chlamydia despite industry testing protocols, the AFI claims that infection rates are lower than the general population. Meanwhile, the LA County Department of Public Health has delayed on developing and implementing an effective enforcement strategy. This session will discuss how concerted public health advocacy is still required even after Measure B, a best practice public health measure, won at the ballot box. The panelist, a leader in advocacy efforts to pass Measure B, will discuss how to ensure that government bodies take the necessary steps to achieve effective enforcement of this measure, and will describe the hurdles in this process. The panelist will also assess how lawsuits can serve as delaying tactics that can undermine the public's will. Furthermore, the panelist will discuss how to counter post-election commentary that try to portray Measure B as a violation of free speech, a form of paternalism, and an anti-business tactic. The panelist will then discuss the latest strategies for moving beyond LA County with the forthcoming advancement of state legislation to address jurisdictional gaps. Lastly, the panelist will summarize national advocacy strategies to promote health and safety in the AFI.