Naming porn's HIV stars

Mack Reed at LAVoice.org is skeptical about the decision by the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation to release the stage names of porn actors who may have had recent sexual contact with HIV positive stars Darren James and Lara Roxx.

The "Quarantine List" gives the first test dates, and a schedule for followup confirmation tests for nearly 60 actors - all of them mentioned by their screen names. In essence, the center - a self-described "non-profit corporation created to care for the physical and emotional needs of sex workers and the people who work in the Adult Entertainment Industry" - has opened up the private medical records of its patients to very public view.

I'm not a lawyer, but the California Health and Safety Code seems to protect these actors from such an invasion of privacy, which could have serious implications for their careers and personal lives.

Earlier this week, state and county health officials claimed the authority to require the use of condoms in porn filming, and Cal-OSHA said it would begin making inspections on sets.