Manwin Kicking in $50K Per Month for Performer Testing

CANOGA PARK, Calif.—In a landmark announcement for the adult entertainment business, Manwin today announced that it's setting up a fund through which performers may receive a monthly subsidy to help defray the cost of STI testing.The fund, called the Performer Subsidy Fund, which is being set up through Free Speech Coalition's APHSS program, will be available to all active performers who participate in APHSS even if they don't perform for a Manwin production. The pilot program will be in place by Aug. 1, with the first checks going out in early September, and Manwin is contributing $50,000 monthly to the program through the rest of the year. The FSC would be responsible for reimbursing the performers who tested through the database it administers. Other adult production companies, and producers, also are invited to contribute to the cause, and can do so by contacting FSC.Manwin is providing separate funding to the FSC to cover all administration costs of the program.Performers that are currently participating in the APHSS.org database system will be asked to submit a mailing address in advance of the first round of funding subsidies. The first dispersal of funds is scheduled to take place in early September; performers that wish to receive the September subsidy must be signed up with APHSS.org by Aug. 31. Performers' testing history will be tracked through the APHSS.org database in order to compile needed information that will determine monthly subsidy dispersal. All funds will be divided equally among the participating performers, and performers will be subsidized per test for each test that they have taken in a given month. Subsidy amounts will vary from month to month according to the number of tests identified in the APHSS database for a given month. Test subsidies will not exceed the average price of an industry-standard performer’s test panel of $120. If there are any surplus funds left after performers receive monthly subsidies, the excess will be put into a separate account that will be reserved for use in the event of an on-set HIV exposure incident. One hundred percent of the funds contributed to the subsidy will be designated to the performers and/or the emergency fund.“This fund was conceptualized to alleviate some of the expenses and financial burden performers may be facing due to occupational testing," Manwin Managing Partner Fabian Thylmann said. "We’re grateful the FSC agreed to support this project, and hope others in the industry will back it as well.” The action follows a recent policy change for industry giant Manwin, which owns Brazzers, Twistys, Digital Playground and other blue chip adult brands. New company policy requires performers that work on productions for Manwin brands to increase STI testing to every 14 days, instead of the industry standard 28-day testing. Any performer that tests, and is a participant in the APHSS database program can receive a subsidy, even if they test only every 28 days, and even if they do not shoot for any Manwin-owned brands. “When Manwin called and told me that they wanted to help all performers by subsidizing the cost of test, we were thrilled," FSC Executive Director Diane Duke said. "They put up the funds and we will implement the program. The program is open for other producers to contribute as well—the more money that comes in, the more we will be able to send to performers." For more information on FSC, APHSS.org or the Performers Subsidy Fund, please contact joanne@freespeechcoalition.com.