Mandatory 'condom use' in porn films up for vote in Los Angeles County

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A measure proposing that porn actors in Los Angeles County should wear condoms during filming has gained enough signatures to qualify for ballot and will be put to voters in November's election, US election officials have revealed.

Aids Healthcare Foundation, a supporter of the petition, said the move, if passed, would shield porn actors from HIV and would also expand to a county level ordinance, which would require ' condom use' as a condition for receiving a filming permit within the city of Los Angeles.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed that measure into law in January after the Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) brought a similar petition to city government, who are still studying on how to enforce the ordinance.

However, a spokeswoman for the Free Speech Coalition, an industry group, claimed that such measures were 'government overreach'.

"It's clearly the government interfering where it really doesn't belong," the BBC quoted the spokeswoman, as saying.

Adult production companies are threatening to move out of California because of the requirement, but face legal difficulties, and have been suspended in the past because of HIV scares.

The ballot measure would require adult film producers to obtain a permit from the county's public health department, requiring actors to use condoms for penetrative sex. 1988 ruling prevented producers from being prosecuted under anti-prostitution laws, and only one other state, New Hampshire, has a similar ruling.