LGBT Groups Join Adult Performers Opposition to AB 1576

SACRAMENTO—The Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club and the Transgender Law Center have joined adult performers in their battle over a new bill that would establish criminal penalties for not using a condom in the production of an adult film. The bill, AB 1576, would also force performers to waive their right to medical privacy, and would force an exodus of adult performers and producers out of California. Excerpt from The Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club statement: "We are disappointed that proponents of this bill have worked to actively silence the viewpoints of sex workers from this process. If this legislation were truly aimed at creating a safer work environment, workers would have been brought to the table to discuss their safety needs and make suggestions about how to best address them. … "Proponents of AB 1576 have attempted to silence, shame and bully sex workers and in doing so have shown that their agenda clearly isn’t about the health of these workers, it’s about a moral campaign against their industry." Excerpt from the Transgender Law Center statement: "Transgender communities remain some of the most impacted by HIV and face remarkably high rates of discrimination in education and employment. While Transgender Law Center appreciates the intentions behind AB 1576, we are concerned that harsh penalties will drive big production studios out of California and small studios underground. This would result in lost economic opportunities for many in the adult film industry, both in front of and behind the cameras, inadvertently causing more harms to performers that this bill intended to protect." In addition to the above, the bill has been opposed by performer groups such as the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (APAC) and the Erotic Service Providers Union. Over 500 independent performers have signed a petition asking the California Assembly's Appropriations Committee to vote NO on the bill. Full copies of the statements are available to the press upon request. The Free Speech Coalition is the national trade organization to the adult entertainment industry. Its mission is to lead, protect and support the growth and well being of the adult entertainment community.