Porn performer who tested HIV positive speaks for the first time

The adult film performer who tested HIV positive at a San Fernando Valley clinic this fall spoke out for the first time Tuesday, calling for mandatory condom use in porn productions, improved testing for sexually transmitted disease and follow-up care for fellow performers.

Derrick Burts, 24, said he tested HIV positive in October at the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation in Sherman Oaks after working in both gay and straight porn films for a few months. He had previously been identified only as Patient Zeta.

Regular tests are required by producers of straight porn who use a database maintained by the clinic, known as AIM, to clear actors for work.

Video: Watch the interview

Burts, who performed in straight films as “Cameron Reid” and gay films as “Derek Chambers,” said he was tested at the clinic Oct. 8, then received a panicked call from clinic staff the following afternoon, summoning him to the office.

Once there, he said, clinic staff told him that he had tested HIV positive. They wanted to perform a follow-up test and begin notifying performers he had worked with since his last negative test result Sept. 3. Those performers, he was told, would be placed on a quarantine list while they, too, were tested.

Burts said he gave clinic staff the names of about a dozen performers he had worked with in California and Florida in recent weeks in both gay and straight productions. The list included his girlfriend, who also works in the industry as a performer. He watched as clinic staff began scanning their performer database, notifying those he had named and placing them on a quarantine list.

The clinic has since said that none of the performers on their quarantine list tested positive. Burts confirmed that his girlfriend tested negative.

He said that when he returned to the clinic Oct. 23 to review the second test results, clinic staff told him that they had traced his HIV infection to someone he had performed a scene with who they described to him as a "known positive."

Although straight porn performers must show negative HIV test results before filming, the gay porn industry does not have the same restrictions, although condom use is typically required.

Burts said he asked who the performer was and clinic staff told him they could not reveal the performer’s name or gender due to patient confidentiality.

Clinic officials could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday night. One attorney for the clinic was traveling outside the U.S., according to an e-mail from him earlier in the day.

Burts said he believed he may have contracted the disease during a gay porn shoot in Florida. Like many gay porn films, he said the performers used condoms during intercourse, but not during oral sex.

Contrary to Burts’ account of what he was told, clinic officials released a statement last month saying “Patient Zeta acquired the virus through private, personal activity.”

“That’s completely false,” Burts said Tuesday. “There is no possible way. The only person I had sex with in my personal life was my girlfriend.”

Before he left the clinic Oct. 23, Burts said clinic staff put him in touch with a doctor affiliated with the clinic and promised to arrange for his follow-up care.

Burts said no one called him to follow up, and when he contacted the clinic, he received no response for for two months. He felt neglected.

“AIM promised they would help me set up a doctor and get treatment,” he said. “They did none of that.”

Burts said AIM staff had warned him not to contact the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, whose officials have been among the clinic’s chief critics. [An earlier version of this post incorrectly gave the name of the foundations as Aids Healthcare.] In frustration, Burts said he went to an AIDS Healthcare Foundation center in Los Angeles Nov. 24 and saw a doctor, never identifying himself as Patient Zeta.

Pleased with the care he received at AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Burts contacted the group’s leaders last week, identified himself as Patient Zeta and said he wanted to speak out on their behalf and in favor of enforcing mandatory condom use in porn productions. Foundation officials have scheduled a news conference with Burts for 10 a.m. Wednesday.

“AIM likes to state that testing is enough. That’s completely false,” he said, noting that in the months before he tested positive for HIV, he had also contracted chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes.

“It’s very dangerous,” he said of adult film work. “It should be required that you wear a condom on the set.”

Burts, who grew up in Whittier and Hemet, graduated from Hemet High School and a hotel management school in Florida and worked as a hotel manager and cruise ship magician before becoming a porn performer for the money -- $200 to $800 for a straight scene, $1,000 to $2,000 for a gay scene.

Looking back, he said he wishes he had known more about the risks of contracting sexually transmitted diseases in the industry.

“Making $10,000 or $15,000 for porn isn’t worth your life,” he said, “Performers need to be educated.”

RELATED:

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Porn actor with HIV didn't infect any other adult performer, clinic says

Porn production companies suspend production as a precaution amid new HIV case in porn performer

-- Molly Hennessy-Fiske in Hollywood

Photo: Derrick Burts. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Ken]

I love the way the LA Times' reporting describes this fellow's job as a gay porn actor's work hazards and not wearing a condom in the same way one might describe the daily work conditions of an electrician or a warehouse fellow who must wear a back brace for safe working conditions. Nothing about the moral impact and the degradation of young people who get caught up in the porn machine...so sad the LA Times can't muster the courage to speak up.

[William]

"Looking back, he said he wishes he had known more about the risks of contracting sexually transmitted diseases in the industry."

Oh, please!!!! Give me a break! You're telling me that a 20 year old didn't know having sex in porno's would get you a disease!! Sign of the apocalypse I guess...

[Judy]

wow, what a sad story. $2,000 for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes all by the age of 24. The wages of sin are death. I understand people are going to jump all over my comment because it reflects the Bible. On the contrary, I have a lot of compassion for someone who has to sell their body for the almighty dollar. Such a young man with a girlfriend also working in the same industry. The money sounds good and people like Ron Jeremy are still around, why not get paid for sex? This young man is the answer. No matter how he earns his "salary" he should be protected, all sex workers deserve safety in the work place. This is more than a moral issue, it is a health issue.

[Penny Lane]

"Before he left the clinic Oct. 23, Burts said clinic staff put him in touch with a doctor affiliated with the clinic and promised to arrange for his follow-up care.

Burts said no one called him to follow up, and when he contacted the clinic, he received no response for for two months. He felt neglected.

“AIM promised they would help me set up a doctor and get treatment,” he said. “They did none of that.”

--------------

That is truly unethical behavior. Patient follow-up is an essential part of HIV testing. These people sound like a bunch of amateurs.

This poor guy had just gotten a terrible piece of news and he needed their help and support. He asked them for help, they said they would provide it, and then they just blew him off. How can you just leave someone in such a vulnerable moment of their lives hanging like that?

If these people cannot make good on their promises to the folks that they are diagnosing, then they have no business testing people for HIV at all.

Apparently AIM is all about the image and not about really helping people.

[Kena]

I know the guy is young, but wasn't it a warning that porn was a little bit dangerous when he contracted chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes prior to contracting HIV? Was the money really that good? Porn, straight or gay, will never be 100% safe, even with a condom. It's just not worth it. God bless him.

[Christopher Eaton]

This guy is lying about how he acquired Hiv. He says that he got it from oral sex. A huge preponderance of research show that this is virtually impossible. Someone came inside of him, whether on set or in private. And Bible thumpers, sorry, this is a health issue, as much as your poisonous selves would like to make it otherwise.

[ILoveCA]

We don’t get to choose our consequences for our decisions…lesson here, make better choices.

[William]

@ Christopher: if the guy had a herpes outbreak, which is basically an open sore, can't HIV enter that opening and infect him?

[Pincus]

AIM is about the politics of porn and it's main interest is keeping the porn business alive. If condoms are required, the business could die down to a point where AIM would have to close up shop. Sharon Mitchell is protecting her interests and those of her friends in the porn business. She and her friends will continue t exploit these young performers as long as they can for the sake of making the almighty dollar.

This most recent case highlighted a lot of AIM's intentions. Press releases announcing "all is good again" were intended to create a safe feeling about the business.

Ultimately, they did nothing for this HIV infected performer once he tested positive and they do not belong in the healthcare business!

[Henry]

Well, Derek can have an impact and his lesson need not be a wasted one.

I am relieved that he has seen the true colors of AIM, which is just a fig leaf excuse for the multi-billion dollar porn industry to AVOID public health protection for some of the most vunerable young people in our society.

And Derek, if you are really searching for the single person most responsible for your getting infected in the porn industry, go to the County Administration Building on Temple Street. Walk in and ask for Zev Yaroslavsky. He's the elected official who has no guts to demand that the porn industry be regulated by Los Angeles County Health Officials. Why?

Money, Derek, it's about money. If you follow the money, it will lead you back to certain porn industry firms located on Cahuenga and Ventura Blvds. And standing in front of those firms.... is AIM: The fake health clinic used to avoid the use of condoms in the making of porn... and lots and lots of filthy money.

You are a pawn, Derek. When your 15 minutes of over, they want to go back to doing everything the same as before. And to them, you are just an unfortunate bump on the way to another banner year of sales.

Don't let what happened to you go to waste Derek. Go down to the Hall of Administration and testify. Then protest. Then call Zev gutless on television. That is how you can change this picture.

[Saul C. Lito]

Yikes! Everyone is porn says they don't get infected, but the way this guy sounds, it probably rings true. I know a porn star, Tanya Crisci, who claims the same thing! Herpes! Herpes! Herpes!

Let this guy speak out and let's hope that other young people don't get caught up in this unforgiving game.

[jp]

Good on him for speaking out, by doing so he may be helping others. Bravo!

[jim]

What reality was this idiot living in? It's everyone elses fault he was having sex with men unprotected? Dudes an obvious idiot. Greed won out on this one, huh buddy. Moron

[BillN]

Agree with this guy totally. condoms for all male actors period. furthermore these bareback movies and backbedroom shoots/amateur style etc.. should be banned regardless. Too many of these 'home made' genres involve the drugging and rape of the 'actors' and those who monitor this industry often can't tell what is legit and what is not. The last to find out what is going on is the kid under.

[Compassion is a Virtue - Give it a Try...]

Have some compassion, please, if not empathy.

If the article is accurate, it sounds to me like he's suffered a horrible occupational injury (above all, don't blame him for his injury). Moreover, at the loss of his privacy and at the associated risk of suffering horrible bigotry, he's trying to improve things so that others don't suffer as he has. That takes great courage, and those of you that see this occasion as a chance to stand in arrogant judgment or that can't see his courage are really weak and amoral (maybe you can find something about that in your bible).

If you shed the hate, you'll see his speaking up is selfless and at the risk of exposing himself to bigotry against HIV+ people. Imagine what he and his loved ones are going through, and here he is trying to improve things for others.

Clearly, he's motivated by far better things than those of you who hate.

Derrick, thanks for taking a stand and trying to improve things.

[Erin]

It is unfortunate that this disease can attack anyone who decides to have non safe sex.
I for one am guilty, thinking it could never happen to me and to date, thank God I'm fine.
It wasn't till about 13 years ago, I was single, living in Sherman Oaks in a condo complex renting, my best friend a professional female was also renting a unit in the same building. After a few weeks we met other tenants, one in particular who worked in the porn industry. I don't need to say anymore except a few nights of sex without a condom was not a smart choice. Her ex was the only other partner whom she had sex with. It would never happen to someone like that. No way!
8 years ago I was asked if I had any phone numbers of particular mutual aquaintances. Thats when I learned this person was infected with the HIV virus.

It was a definate wake up call. I never would have guessed this could happen to this person. I now know this disease could happen to "anyone".
In the past years I have lost three friends to HIV. It
was difficult losing them. It could happen to anyone not only the innocent, straight, and gay. Most likely because they weren't educated and made poor choices.
I take my hat off to "Patient Zeta" Thank you,for coming out and wish him nothing but best. Sometimes it's an article like this that can save someone.

[Steve]

@Ken,

Perhaps, the Times is reporting this story's simple facts rather than trying to dictate morality to its readers. My morality and I do not need a newspaper, a blog, or a person to tell what is moral and what is not moral.

To each their own.

[Mitchell Young]

@Christpher Eaton

You think maybe traditional morality maybe, just maybe, proscribed or condemned certain activities precisely because they were dangerous to individuals and society at large.

[geo88a]

Look the porn industry is concerned about one thing..............making money.
This fellow got caught up in this job. Contrary to some comments..the money is not all that good, for all the risks involved. I hope that he'd be able afford his medicine.

[Mark]

This industry has been cited for numerous Cal/OSHA violations and they continue to flaunt current California law which mandates the use of condoms. The issue of HIV infect performers is constantly repeated. How many more will it take before state officials act? These incidents cost the state over $600,000 for life time treatment of infected individuals. In the current budget crises can we expect tax payers to front the bill when condoms are for all intents and purposes free.

AIM healthcare is nothing but a front for adult film producers for-profit interests. They continue to violate their ethical duty to protect the health of their clients. Instead the interest of producers and talent agencies are give priority over clients.

Readers of the Los Angeles Times should be familiar with these continual injustices. Besides the plethora of newly acquired HIV case, other STDs are at such high prevalence rates that they are comparable to "third world" sub-Sahara Africa.

I ask the LA Times to pursue further investigation. Is AIM healthcare a licensed facility? Who is the medical director? Such gross negligence and intentional improprieties needs to be addressed by proper regulatory bodies.

The production of adult film is legal in California. As such this industry should abide by the same health and safety requirements that all California employers adhere to.

[dsinla]

View the Award winning documentary "House of Numbers" to see why questions about this
must be raised, and why deeper issues about HIV and AIDS need to be
discussed. Lives are at risk. This is the first documentary ,with the worlds
foremost authorities, that highlights the fundamental problems with HIV
testing, science, and statistics, It sheds new light on a misunderstood
phenomenon., for which there is still no cure. GO to
houseofnumbers.com to see the trailer.

[M]

If only he had heeded the numerous warnings before hand. Moving gradually from the treatable Chlamydia and Gonorrhea unto the incurable Herpes is a sign of some deeper dysfunction. These things should have scared him out of the industry. My question is, why did he have unprotected sex knowing he had the dangerous Herpes? I wish him all the best with his treatment.

[Kim]

I am really sorry to hear this man has HIV but he was VERY well informed of the risks in unsafe sex and EVERYONE knows that male to male sex is the #1 culprit for sexual transmission. He is right it is NOT worth it but did it anyways. I have no idea why any porn actor or actress would have sex without a condom. I for one do not watch much porn but would not care if an actor wore a condom or not. unsafe sex in a VERY risky industry is not worh it! Best wishes and good health to this man though.

[Jeff Flanagan]

>noting that in the months before he tested positive for HIV, he had also >contracted chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes.

>Looking back, he said he wishes he had known more about
>the risks of contracting sexually transmitted diseases in the industry.

Catching chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes didn't teach this guy that he can catch diseases doing porn? Seriously?

[apr345]

@ Jim - do you really have to call this poor guy an "idiot" and a "moron"? What happened to him was unfortunate, and maybe it was his fault because he shouldve known the consequences of what he was doing, but calling people degrading names is just plain rude.

i totally agree with "Compassion is a virtue - give it a try". It must be hard for him and his family to come out and speak up, but he's doing this so he can warn everyone about the cons of this industry. He never wished for this to happen to him and to anyone else, but unfortunately, it did for him