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from www.dailynews.com – A television commercial featuring two former adult film actors will begin to air locally, to encourage Los Angeles County residents to vote on a measure in November that would require condoms to be used on production sets while filming pornographic scenes.

Derrick Burts and Darren James, former actors who are both HIV positive, say in the commercials that they contracted the disease while working in the industry, because condoms were not used.

“After only 3 months in the industry, I contracted HIV in 2010. Now I have it for life,” Burts says in the TV ad. “My employers were responsible for providing a safe environment. They obviously didn’t.”

At a Monday morning press conference Burts, James and other workers said everyone from dog groomers to barbers to tattoo artists all require some sort of safety equipment and state licensing, so why shouldn’t porn, they asked. The news conference was held on the top floor of the Sheraton Universal Hotel overlooking the San Fernando Valley where an estimated 90 percent of the films are made.

“It’s no one’s fault but my own,” Burts, 25, said. “A lot of performers want condoms but are afraid to speak out, because they won’t get that paycheck.”

Created and backed by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the “Safer Sex” initiative now known as Measure B would require the use of condoms on all adult film sets as well as make producers obtain a public health permit after completing training on blood-borne pathogens and submitting an exposure control plan. Fees charged for the permits would be used to pay for enforcement.

As part of the “Vote Yes on B” campaign, nine billboards promoting the measure started going up Monday across Los Angeles, said Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

“This is a prudent public health and safety measure that will require adult film producers operating in the county to obtain public health permits as a condition of doing business here in Los Angeles,” Weinstein said, adding that enforcement will not cost tax payers money.

But the Canoga Park-based Free Speech Coalition, which represents the adult film industry, has blasted the ads. Working with the No on Government Waste Committee, the coalition plans its own “No on Measure B” campaign and called the ads “misleading, erroneous” and said they violate state election law.

“This ad featuring Derrick Burts and Darren James does not disclose that both men were well-compensated by AHF for their appearances,” said James Lee, spokesman for the No on Government Waste Committee. The ad also doesn’t meet disclosure requirements, he said, adding that his group may file a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Ged Kenslea, a spokesman for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said the commercial has been vetted by attorneys who are well versed in political ads. He also said James is a paid employee of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, working in HIV prevention.

But Lee also said Burts had been in discussions with his group to be paid $10,000.

“Burts had disclosed to us that AHF had previously paid approximately $7,500 for his support and he indicated he wanted more money,” Lee said.

Burts told the Daily News that he had spoken with members of the No on Government Waste Committee because he wanted to hear their side, but he did not want to recant previous statements he had made on behalf of AHF or wearing condoms on porn shoots.

“Never, have I ever, wanted to go against the initiative,” Burts said.

“I personally, truly believe this is what the industry needs.”

Lee said there is no guarantee that tax payers won’t be picking up the bill for enforcement of the law, if it passes. He said the county has estimated that starting an enforcement program could cost $300,000. But Lee said the county doesn’t know how much costs would rise thereafter.

The “Vote Yes on B” campaign comes just as the adult film industry was asked to halt production last month until reports of nearly a dozen syphilis cases were substantiated. Two performers who tested positive for syphilis contacted the Free Speech Coalition, according press releases on its website.

The adult film industry largely opposes the mandatory condom use and public health permitting because they say the rules would cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, and self-regulation works fine.

The industry has a program that allows adult film performers to test for HIV, gonorrhea and chlamydia every 28 days, or more often.

Earlier this year, the Los Angeles City Council enacted an ordinance requiring adult film actors to wear condoms while performing in the city, after the AIDS Healthcare Foundation collected 70,000 petition signatures for a ballot measure. The ordinance went into effect in March. Enforcement remains in limbo, however, because city officials say they are still working out the details.

A state law already mandates condom use on adult film sets, but enforcement is based largely on performers complaints to the California’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

*Watch the ad: www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21565264/commercial-billboards-kick-start-measure-b-campaign-requiring