Industry Stalwarts Attend Cal/OSHA Standards Board Meeting

CHATSWORTH, Calif.—Yesterday the Cal/OSHA Standards Board held its monthly meeting in Oakland at the Harris State Building Auditorium, and on the agenda was the continued fight over regulation of the adult entertainment industry—specifically the government-mandated use of barrier protection during the shooting of sex scenes. The Free Speech Coalition has been at the forefront of the fight against proposed regulations, and the organization has been especially focused on pushing Cal/OSHA to pay attention to testimony from stakeholders the adult industry. On the opposing side, of course, is AIDS Healthcare Foundation, under the leadership of its porn-loathing chief, Michael Weinstein. Both sides have filed petitions to request changes in the regulatory language for §5193, the current California law regarding bloodborne pathogens, that the Standards Board will consider at its August 18 meeting. Up in Oakland on July 21 to represent the adult industry’s interests were attorney Karen Tynan, director Fivestar and performers Ariel X, Sam Solo and Mona Wales—fighting the good fight, as evidenced by their posts on Twitter. Mona Wales tweeted, “If porn isn’t political then why is it a part of the gop platform? & why did I attend this #calosha hearing today?” Ariel X implored, “Performers, please save the date Aug 18th in walnutcreek calOSHA standards review for adult industry. Be heard no matter what your view.” The Free Speech Coalition wasn't the only industry group represented at the event. Phyllisha Anne of the International Entertainment Adult Union was in attendance, and Wales spoke to the board as an active member of APAC, the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee. Wales shared her speech to the board with AVN, and it reads in part, "I was here in February and it is a pleasure to address your board once again, and I thank you for your decision to include adult performers in the discussion process. As an APAC member I would like to urge you to adopt the FSC bloodborne pathogen plan. As a woman, I would like say that it is my body that these regulations will impact. I should be able to have control over my sexual and reproductive rights. I thank the Cal/OSHA board for recognizing these facts and I look forward to working with your board in the future to keep our workers heathy and safe." Finally, Tynan shared a link to an article on HIVPlusMag.com, “Op-Ed: 10 Worst Offenses of AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Michael Weinstein.” Read it and get fired up not only about the next hearing on August 18 but also for the November election in California, when the Weinstein-supported Proposition 60 will be on the ballot.