Pioneering Performer Health Initiative Launches at Porn Disco 3/2

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif.—Free Speech Coalition, Ducati Studios and Desert AIDS Project are kicking off their new Next Steps Program, a pioneering partnership that helps connect adult performers with vital healthcare, with a party this weekend in Palm Springs during the Porn Disco event. The Next Steps program will assist adult performers in accessing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), mental health services, and other health-related needs. On Saturday night, during Trenton Ducati’s Porno Disco event at the CCBC Resort, representatives from Desert AIDS Project will conduct free HIV testing and spread awareness of the upcoming program. The Next Steps program is still in its early phases. When fully realized, the program will provide free on-set visits for adult producers, community-specific healthcare messaging and informational materials, and a 'warmline' to help adult performers who may want to access healthcare, including PrEP, mental health services and substance abuse treatment. Eric Paul Leue, Executive Director of the Free Speech Coalition, said the event is a crucial first step in making community-affirming care accessible to the performers and other sex workers. “By bringing together stakeholders from our community, and meeting them where they live and work, the Next Steps Program will make a marked difference in the mental, physical and sexual health of adult performers. We hope this pilot program in the Coachella Valley will become a model for health departments and outreach organizations nationwide.”