While all eyes were on the presidential race yesterday, California was reaffirming the right of porn performers and producers to decide whether condoms are used in the films they create by voting "No" on Proposition 60. The controversial measure would have mandated the use of condoms whenever "performers actually engage in vaginal or anal penetration by a penis."
Proposition 60 was rejected by 53.9 percent of voters, with 46.1 percent voting in favor of it. Supporters of the measure argued that it would reduce of the risk of STI transmission on set, but members of the adult entertainment industry united to testify that it would force production underground as filmmakers dodged the requirement, thereby making production less regulated and less safe.
What's more, the proposition would have given any state resident the power to sue porn producers and purveyors if the citizen ever saw (or reported that they saw) an instance in which a condom was not used during a shoot, which members of the industry argued would out them at risk. As porn performer and activist Siouxsie Q explained in an essay for AlterNet earlier this week, "Proposition 60 will mandate the use of condoms in each and every adult film production in California and financially incentivize any resident of the state to enforce that mandate by filing lawsuits against anyone who makes money off of the film, thereby easily gaining access to adult performers’ legal names and home addresses — a terrifying prospect for a community that already faces disproportionate amounts of violence and discrimination."
After the measure's defeat, performers took to Twitter to celebrate what they see as a victory for both their safety and the future of their industry.
thank you to EVERYONE who spread the word #noprop60 AND to everyone who listened and voted no! 🙏🏼
— jessica drake (@thejessicadrake) November 9, 2016
Thank you to everyone who helped make the Prop 60 defeat possible. I am so happy to see performer voices make such a difference.
— Chanel Preston (@ChanelPreston) November 9, 2016
I guess our victory is just now hitting me. Tears are starting. Thank you everyone who stepped up. Im so fortunate to have you. #NoProp60
— JuliaAnn™ #NoProp60 (@therealJuliaAnn) November 9, 2016
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