LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), will host a PRESS TELECONFERENCE TODAY Tuesday, December 8th at 5:30 pm PT to discuss several issues unfolding with regard to the adult film industry and AHF’s efforts to ensure condoms are used in all adult films shot and produced in California. Current issues roiling the porn industry include:
- Monday, December 7th – California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC),the state’s election watchdog, assessed a $61,500 fine against porn industry backers of the unsuccessful 2012 ‘No on B’ campaign, which sought to defeat the AHF-sponsored ‘County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act,’ which requires porn producers to obtain public health permits and use condoms in their films. Measure B passed in November 2012 with 57% of the vote.
- Tuesday, December 8th – California’s Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), the state’s health and safety regulatory and watchdog organization, announced that it has opened an investigation of James Deen Productions (DBA Third Rock Enterprises) for serious workplace health and safety violations. OSHA’s investigation came about after AHF filed a formal ‘Notice of Alleged Safety or Health Hazards’ complaint against Deen with OSHA.
- Kink.com – There is an open and ongoing Cal/OSHA investigation against Kink.com (DBA Cybernet Entertainment) for serious workplace health and safety violations. Kink.com also just released four adult films last week where performers were not provided condoms on set, which contradicts Kink.com's public statement about James Deen's sexual assault allegations on Kink.com sets that “Our (Kink’s) performers deserve not only safe sets, but the ability to work without fear of assault.” The four adult films will be rolled into Cal/OSHA’s ongoing investigation against Kink.com.
| WHAT: | PRESS TELECONFERENCE—AHF to comment/respond to: | ||
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OSHA Opens Investigation of James Deen Productions, continues growing investigation of Kink.com; FPPC Fines Porn Industry $61K over Illegal 2012, ‘No on B’ campaign contributions |
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| WHEN: |
TUESDAY, December 8th 2015—5:30 PM Pacific |
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WHO:
- Michael Weinstein, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, President
- Whitney Engeran Cordova, Senior Director, Public Health Division, AHF
- Adam Cohen, Public Health Consultant, AHF
Teleconference Dial in information: +1.877.411.9748 participant code #7134323
AHF CONTACTS:
Ged Kenslea, (323) 791-5526 m (323) 308-1833 w
Christopher
Johnson (310) 880-9913 m (323) 960-4846 w
Cal/OSHA
Cal/OSHA opens two new investigations against Kink.com and James Deen Productions
On November 9, 2015, Cal/OSHA opened a new investigation against Kink.com (DBA Cybernet Entertainment) (source: https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=1104991.015). On December 7, 2015, in light of the recent sexual assault allegations that occurred on Kink.com sets, AIDS Healthcare Foundation submitted the four recently released Kink.com adult films to be rolled into Cal/OSHA’s ongoing investigation of Kink.com. In addition, in light of the recent sexual assault allegations against adult film producer/performer James Deen, Cal/OSHA opened a new investigation against James Deen Productions (DBA Third Rock Enterprises) on December 8, 2015.
Kink.com has a history of violating Cal/OSHA workplace health and safety regulations
On January 30, 2014, Cal/OSHA cited Kink.com (DBA Cybernet Entertainment) $78,710 for not providing safe sets for adult film performers (source: https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=1104991.015). Kink.com appealed the citation, and on April 10, 2015 the Cal/OSHA Appeals Board upheld the decision that Kink.com committed “serious violations,” including not providing condoms on set. As a result, Kink.com was required to pay $27,135. (The Cal/OSHA Appeals Board decision is attached as a PDF.)
Kink.com questionably distanced themselves from the sexual assault allegations against James Deen
In response to the sexual assault allegations against James Deen that began on November 29, 2015, Kink.com stated on November 30, 2015: "Our performers deserve not only safe sets, but the ability to work without fear of assault” (source: http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2015/11/30/kinkcom-porn-star-james-deen-accused-of-sexual-assault). Multiple performers allege Kink.com allowed Deen to commit sexual assault on Kink.com sets (source: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/12/07/accuser-james-deen-had-help-raping-me.html). While Kink.com claims this is untrue and that adult film performers are protected on Kink.com sets, Kink.com released the following four adult films just days after making their statement where performers engaged in vaginal and anal sex without the use of condoms:
1. “The captive slu* under the stairs" (Released December 4, 2015)
2.
"Evil French maid steals all the ****" (Released December 4, 2015)
3.
"Hot Latina ***** for a day" (Released December 4, 2015)
4.
"Buy my **** and fill all my ***** at once" (Released December 2, 2015)
FPPC
FPPC Fines Porn Industry $61K on Illegal Foreign Contributions to 2012’s ‘No on B’ Campaign
AHF welcomed news that California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), the state’s election watchdog, is assessing a $61,000 fine against porn industry backers of the unsuccessful 2012 ‘No on B’ campaign, which sought to defeat the ‘County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act,’ which requires porn producers to obtain public health permits and use condoms in their films. Measure B passed in November 2012 with 57% of voters voting in favor of the measure (1,617,866 votes in favor to 1,222,681 votes against).
During its successful campaign for ‘Yes on B,’ backers of the measure, which include individuals affiliated with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), filed formal complaints with both California’s FPPC and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) over the illegal donations from Manwin, a foreign porn cartel that was the largest single donor to the ‘No’ campaign. AHF is heartened by today’s news of the FPPC fine; however, the FEC panel repeatedly declined to place AHF’s complaint of illegal foreign contributions to U.S. elections before its commission, repeatedly splitting three to three along party lines with the deadlock put an end to the case.
“The $61,000 fine issued today by California’s Fair Political Practices Commission over foreign contributions directed to the ‘No on B’ campaign is yet another confirmation of the complete lack of credibility of the entire adult film industry. The porn industry, its producers’ trade group, the Free Speech Coalition and FSC head Diane Duke, all share responsibility for shirking their duty to protect performers working in California’s adult film industry. Now, they also share culpability for taking illegal foreign money for their failed campaign against Measure B,” said Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and one of the five named proponents of Measure B. Our democratic process and principles in this country are simply too important to let foreign nationals or governments hold sway and influence US elections large or small with illegal campaign contributions.”
Manwin Licensing International & Froytal Services, Ltd., related foreign porn producers operating in Luxembourg and Cypress, respectively, illegally contributed over $300,000 to the adult film industry’s unsuccessful ‘No on B’ campaign. The ‘No’ campaign was spearheaded by porn industry producers’ trade group, the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its Executive Director, Diane Duke.
As USA Today reported in May of this year on AHF’s failed bid to also get the FEC to take up the issue, “AIDS Healthcare Foundation argued that $327,000 — or nearly half the money spent to oppose the 2012 initiative — came from two companies tied to Manwin Licensing International, which runs adult websites and has operations around the globe. The foundation argued that the Manwin-related contributions violated the federal law that bans foreign donations in federal, state or local elections.”
In 2012, Measure B enjoyed a wide margin of support, passing with 57% of voters in favor: 1,617,866 votes in favor (56.94%) vs. 1,222,681 votes against (43.04%).
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 500,000 individuals in 36 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare
