The adult film industry has officially shut down production in California due to four confirmed HIV infections, NPR reports.
The announcement of the confirmed infections only fueled the AIDS Healthcare Foundation's campaign to make wearing condoms mandatory on the set of adult films.
"People thought it was a weird, quirky thing, and now I think they see it as a real health issue," AHF President Michael Weinstein told NPR.
With every report of a new infection, actors are becoming more and more way about returning to work. According to NPR, there is a pending bill requiring condoms on pornography shoots throughout California that lawmakers have yet to pass.
"They're scared," Weinstein said. "It's beginning to become clearer and clearer that the producers don't care about them. They thought they were protected, and it's obvious that this system doesn't protect them."
Joanne Cachapero, membership director of the Free Speech Coalition, told Reuters the group is trying to find the source of the infection.
"While we don't have evidence to suggest an on-set transmission as opposed to a transmission from non-industry (off-camera) related activity, we are taking every measure to determine the source and to protect the performer pool," Cachapero said in a statement
Two out of the four cases have chosen to remain anonymous. However, porn stars Rod Daily and Cameron Bay have gone public with their diagnosis in hopes to spread awareness about the situation.
"Just sayin be careful because that test ain't s**t without a condom strapped up with it," Rod Daily posted on Twitter.
"Whether or not [Bay] was infected on set, she performed with HIV between her tests," Weinstein told the Los Angeles Times. "If you think that Russian roulette is a great way to protect workers, then the present system is perfect."
The Free Speech Coalition requires actors to be test every 14 to 28 days for sexually transmitted diseases. According to the LA Times, the industry required performers whose last STD test was prior to Aug. 19 to take a re-test.
