[NSFW] Bad news in Los Angeles for the porn industry

Measure B requires all producers of "adult films"—including married couples who webcam in the privacy of their own homes—to get a permit, at a cost of many thousands of dollars. To get a permit, they must also employ an "exposure control plan" that complies with California Code of Regulations Title 8 §5193, the California workplace regulation relating to the control of hazardous substances. The statute was created to protect workers in California hospitals, medical clinics, and testing labs, but was never intended to—nor could it—apply to the making of adult films. - AVN - Measure B: It's More Than Just Condoms!

I think the article makes several great points, and I can see the points on both sides. If we all worked in an industry where every gig we not only risk ourselves by potentially being exposed to life threatening diseases, but also risk spreading it to other people, then yes; i think everything should be done to minimize that risk. Furthermore, I think it's in the government's interest to regulate dangerous work conditions reduce the risk for workers and ensure that they are well protected, physically, legally and financially.

I'm sure the comparison has been made; if you work at a construction site, you're expected to wear a hard hat and steel toed boots. You don't know when something will fall on you, and you don't know when you'll step on something. But the same can be said for the welder's mask, or the breathing apparatuses, or the safety goggles. If you're not placed in a situation where you'll be near a welder's mask, and can guarantee that there will be no welding involved in the job, why should you be forced to wear a welder's mask?

What bothers me more is that this can easily extend to "personal" home videos made between two consenting adults. "Let's get a filming permit to celebrate our anniversary, honey!" Should the government really have that much say in what goes on in the private bedrooms of its citizens?

I believe, like Trudeau, that the government should not regulate what goes on in private bedrooms between two consenting adults. This issue is separate from the commercial work that the adult film industry does. Secondly, I believe in the open market, and that people should be able to make a living however they wish (legally) as long as the market exists for them, and as long as they continue to remain law abiding, the government should allow them to operate in the manner they wish. On the other hand, I am also in favour of promoting a safe, working environment for workers everywhere, free from duress, paid a fair wage, and protected legally. (I am currently FOR the legalization of prostitution, though this may change in time, but AGAINST the legalization of say, drug dealers.)

So I'm against Measure B, but for official regulation of the industry in such a way that it does not interfere with their work and promotes health and safety. Kind of like SOPA and PIPA ... they've got the right ideals, just horrible ideas of making it work.