AHF: Statewide Condom Initiative Going to Polls

LOS ANGELES—The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) announced Friday that it has collected enough signatures from registered California voters to place a measure on the state's 2016 presidential election ballot that would grant more power to Cal/OSHA and local health departments to enforce the use of condoms on adult sets statewide. In a press statement, AHF reported that it had collected 371,486 signatures as of July 12 on its petition to place the measure on the ballot—considerably surpassing the 366,880 signatures required (5 percent of the total votes cast in the most recent statewide election, held in November 2014). The signatures still must be certified by county election officials throught the state, however, and in order to cover its bases, AHF plans to continue collecting signatures up until the September 14 filing deadline, with an aim of submitting between 525,000 and 550,000. This is AHF's latest attempt to bring the issue of condoms in porn before California voters, after its similar bill AB 1576 sponsored by Assemblymember Isadore Hall III died while under consideration by the state Senate Appropriations Committee in August 2014. Presuming AHF's collected signatures are certified, the measure will appear on the November 8, 2016 ballot. “As of July 12, we have collected enough signatures to qualify this statewide ballot measure regulating condom use and safer sex practices in California’s adult film industry," AHF president Michael Weinstein said. "However in an abundance of caution we plan to continue to collect signatures right up until the September filing deadlines. In 2012 in Los Angeles with Measure B and with our initial polling for this measure, voter sentiment favoring safer sex in adult films was clear: unlike most politicians, voters were not squeamish about this issue, seeing it as a means to protect the health and safety of performers working in the industry. It’s only fair that these performers be afforded the same safeguards as other Californians in their workplaces. In November 2016, we anticipate California voters will once again reaffirm.”