Former porn star Darren James speaks out about latest HIV case

The former adult film actor at the center of a 2004 HIV outbreak among porn performers on Tuesday criticized the industry for failing to protect actors from infection.

“I knew it was going to happen. And how many years has it been? Again. They went right back to the same habits,” Darren James said in an interview with The Times.

James’ comments came after a San Fernando Valley clinic that caters to people who work in the porn industry confirmed to The Times that an adult-industry performer has tested positive for HIV, and that a quarantine was in place for performers who had sexual contact with the person.

Officials from the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation, known as AIM, would not disclose the number of performers who may have been exposed and also declined to provide details about the person infected or the production company or companies involved.

James, a well-liked porn star known for his courteous nature on set, was at the center of an HIV outbreak that shut down the San Fernando Valley’s multibillion-dollar porn industry for a month in the spring of 2004. He had tested HIV negative just days before performing on screen. After a later test came back positive, James learned that he had spread the virus to three actresses with whom he worked. 

In recent months, James has become a advocate of mandatory use of condoms on porn sets to protect performers from HIV. At a hearing of California occupational safety officials in Orange County in March, James called the industry’s reliance on testing performers for HIV  a "false security blanket."

"You think you're safe, but you're not. In between scenes, you don't know what other actors are doing," James told the board before turning to the crowd of about 40 at Costa Mesa City Hall. "I'm living your nightmare every day," he said.

On Tuesday , James renewed his criticism of the industry for failing to protect actors and actresses.

“The actors ... they’re not getting the protection that they need. There should have been mandatory condoms,” James said. “Good grief, it’s like my deal, all over again. I hate that.”

In an interview with The Times last year, when AIM officials confirmed that a female porn performer had tested positive for HIV, James talked extensively about his belief that condoms should be required on set.

"That's why I want to come out and do a little more, if I can. And if it's just to help ... just to get them to listen. Not to boast up porn, not at all, just to make people be aware that I got caught up, man. I thought I was invincible, and I got shot down so fast,” James said at the time.

Some porn actors and actresses, however, have protested state officials’ consideration of strengthening rules requiring condom use on sets. Despite state occupational safety rules requiring condom use on porn sets, that rule is widely flouted on heterosexual porn film shoots.

"There is no way to make the industry risk-free. Making things safer does not make it safe," a porn actor whose stage name is Jeremy Steele said at a June hearing in downtown Los Angeles. "If you're worried or paranoid, you should not be in this industry."

"As someone who is still working on the camera myself, I don't feel any safer with condoms," actress Nina Hartley said at the same hearing.

-- Rong-Gong Lin II

Read more: Wicked Pictures and Vivid Entertainment suspend production as a precaution amid new HIV case in porn performer

Photo: Darren James vividly remembers the 2004 phone call that changed his life. He hopes that by getting his story out, the porn industry will be moved to require condom use to protect the health of its stars. Credit: Stefano Paltera / For The Times

Comments

[Josh]

As I feel badly for the individual who tested positive, I'm not sure if Mr. James is correct in blaming the industry. Individuals choose to engage in sex with multiple partners, who are also having sex with multiple partners. Even if condoms are used, there is still a risk involved in spreading the disease, especially if you watch most porn, it's completely hard-core rough sex, so there is a percentage chance the condom will break.

We, as a society, should embrace what we can do so that all the people who perform in porn movies can know there are alternatives to making a decent living. I understand it's fast and easy money, especially if you have a great body and a huge dick or breasts, however hard work and an education is always worth it in the end.

[Anna]

Darwinism at work...why are we trying to protect people who don't really care much about their own health?

[fred]

I would like to know the incidence of AIDS in porn versus the general community, it bet it is the same or lower.

[markus]

I agree with latex barriers to recieve a license in Nevada you must always use latex barriers as part of the licensing agreement not to mention visual inspections and health checks that are supported by the state so as far as cal/osha is concerned if it was state regualted and governed the safety of sex workers like myself would be fall under the protection of a responsible governing body that will enshure regulation is in effect thus the level of outbreaks would be reduced to nill not so with the current situation since it was revealed "patient 0" was a known homosexual sex worker that endangered all by his careless choices in sexual activity but still opted to perform in adult films needless to say the sheer nature of homosexual sex and the bodily tissues involved higher risk of transmission at any rate he should have been red flagged from the start of his short lived career. Regardless of syntax transparency and prudence must be applied to the industry as with any high risk job if your an oil tanker in the gulf or a sex worker in film the same governing principles should always apply

[MD]

Nina Hartley is still working? ewwww....

[Aristocles]

Randy states that it is "truly amazing that we (the human race) have even survived as long as we have living so irresponsibly" and that "cigarette smoking is bad for your health and mine."

Apparently, Randy is unaware of nature's ultimate indifference to his/her existence; and that leading a sterile, "perfect" life won't put one in its good graces.

Alas, it must be an LA thing...

[BillN]

I agree with Mr. James.
condoms and testing for all.
additionally ban all 'home made' or 'amateur' style material it's a source of illegal porn where too many of the 'actors' are unwilling participants that have usually been drugged.

[Evad the Slayer]

Anyone in the Porn Biz is a prime candidate for some form(s) of sexually transmitted diseases. None of this should be surprising.

[G&G]

I am a photographer in the industry. It is impossible for women to be protected even with condoms, because women are expected to have the men ejaculate on the women's face and/or mouth. The eyes or mouth are perfect receptors of the viruses carried in either the sperm. Even if the men don't ejaculate on their face or mouth, the pre-seminal fluid also carries viruses, and profuse and lengthy copulation is also part of the standard porn scene. The only way to make porn safe, would be to quarantine the actors in a sort of resort or camp where they would only be in contact with fellow "clean" actors. This would be very expensive, but I see it as a viable and 100% safety net that the porn industry could afford considering how much money it produces. Do they have the moral fiber to do this for their actors? Not in a million years.

[Timdaniels]

I can solve the entire porn HIV problem right now...
stop the porn industry.

[concerned citizen]

Condoms may or may not be the answer. It's certain though that you can't mix gay porn "actors" with straight porn "actors".

[paul taegel]

I don't know if it's the story itself or the general lack of compassion in the "comments" section that disturbs me more. Clearly performing in pornography is high-risk, but like any high-risk endeavor, doesn't that make it doubly imperative that stringent safety standards be applied to it's execution? Doing stunts for movies is inherently dangerous, but for that reason, there are myriad safeguards and protocols to minimize that risk and save lives. Maybe pornography is sleazy and/or repugnant. Maybe it's not. That question is not really relevant in this context, and discussing it only obfuscates the real issue. There's no possible justification to let the porn industry exploit and endanger its workers (e.g. a porn actor can't work unless he/she DOESN'T use a condom). The fact is, pornography is legal, and a recent study on pornography shows that ALL men do or have watched porn. That's right. Like it or not, pornography is a part of our society, and we must deal with it.

[Chris]

To Smitty,
The definition for "immoral" is subjective, and I certainly don't find anything immoral about sex. Keep the preachy religious nonsense to yourself. It has no bearing on the matter and you're missing the point.

-There are consequences to immorality.

Posted by: Smitty | October 12, 2010 at 06:15 PM-

[Jeremi]

Boring