Meet the Gay Activist Behind the Push for Condoms in Porn

Proposition 60 would mandate condom use on porn productions filmed in California
By Daniel Kay,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 6, 2016 10:34 AM CST
Meet the Gay Activist Behind the Push for Condoms in Porn
Condoms with information printed on the packaging are provided during a tour at Whole Woman’s Health of San Antonio, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, in San Antonio.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, believes that although condoms may have become "unfashionable," they should still be considered the bedrock of safe sex education. To that end, NPR reports, he is a major advocate of Proposition 60, a ballot initiative in California that would require performers in adult films to use condoms at all times. You can see a breakdown of the ballot measure at KQED. Weinstein says young people today pick up their sexual health habits through pornography, SFist reports. Weinstein is also behind the billboards peppered throughout LA that tout free HIV testing, and his nonprofit is funneling $4.5 million into pushing Prop 60.

Performers in the adult film industry have strongly opposed the measure, saying they prefer the industry's de facto standard of frequent STD testing, and they've started a #NoProp60 social media campaign. They also complain that condoms can cause friction burns. "The sex you have on camera isn't like the sex you have at home," says performer Ela Darling. "It's like Olympic-level, athletic sex." Public health officials are also worried that passing such a restrictive law might drive porn production to more "underground," less regulated venues. Weinstein's critics are quite vocal, and some call him the "Condom Nazi." To that, he says, "In case they haven't noticed, I'm Jewish and I'm gay, OK? It makes my skin curl." (More sex stories.)

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