It comes in different sizes, shapes and colors. It’s slimly, rubbery and safe for all. It’s the only form of male contraceptive that can help prevent spreading HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. However, the adult film industry makes its use optional, which puts performers and the public’s health and safety at risk.

Condom use should be mandatory in pornography because it’s a preventive tool. They reinforce a safer work environment rather than only depending on blood work results as a means to control transmission of diseases. Using these cheap and convenient cylindrical sheaths decreases the spread of these infections not only for performers but also for their sex partners outside of the porn industry.

Let’s take this potential catastrophe into consideration – the sex partners of porn stars could contract a disease, remain asymptomatic and then spread diseases to other non-performers, thus sky rocketing the epidemic into the general population.

The LA Department of Public Health reports actors in hardcore pornography are ten times likelier to have infections than the public. From April 2004 to March 2008, nearly three thousand incidents were confirmed among 1,884 hardcore porn performers in LA County – many participants suffer from more than one infection.

Derrick Burts is a 24-year old adult film performer who is for mandatory condom use.  He tested positive for HIV last year as well as gonorrhea, herpes and chlamydia. Burts said that he was regularly screened at the Adult Performer Health Clinic in Sherman Oaks, which is argued by the industry to be effective in lieu of condom use.

If condoms can help prevent the spread of infections, then why not make condoms mandatory where they’re needed most?

If the porn industry made condoms a ‘must-use’ protection method, it could promote the safe sex ideal by reinforcing it with actual use.  Also, it would protect performers who endanger themselves by not wearing condoms in order to remain employed.  If condoms were required and authorities made sure safety measures were in place at all times, there would be one less risk for performers.

It’s time the public stays passive no more. People must recognize the necessity of mandatory condom use and the responsibility the adult-film industry owes to us, and its employees.