As if news of the impending obscenity crackdown wasn't bad enough, the straight porn industry was shaken again yesterday by reports that male talent Darren James tested positive for HIV. (AVN says that James is the first veteran performer to be diagnosed with HIV since Tony Montana in 1999; it's a testament to the industry's self-policing that this sort of thing doesn't happen more often, especially given the lack of condom use in most hetero porn.) Stay tuned to Adult FYI, AVN, Hardcore Gossip, and AIM for the breaking story; we'll also be updating this post with links to developments. It's gonna be a bumpy ride.

"Darren James Status Confirmed" (Adult FYI)
"AIM Working to Contain HIV; Search for Second-Generation Continues" (AVN)
Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation (aim-med.org)
See also: "Ex-Porn Star Runs California Medical Clinic" (2/2001 story about Sharon Mitchell and AIM @ aegis.com)
"The Secret History of the Other Hollywood" (7/2001 chat transcript w/Sharon Mitchell @ Court TV)
"Real Porn Sex" (excellent take on porn, fantasy, and safe sex @ Tiny Nibbles)
"Titan's Bareback Policy" (Gay Porn Blog)
Previously: World AIDS Day

Updates:

· Carly posts one of the first "civilian" reactions to the news at Pornblography.

· Skeeter Kerkove talks about fake HIV tests in Brazil (where Darren James recently filmed) at Hardcore Gossip and Mike South has some questions for AIM at MikeSouth.com. South also notes the fact that several porn studios (including Red Light District, Hustler and VCA) have stopped shooting for thirty days while the AIM quarantine is in effect. (No permalinks for either post; look for 4/14 entries.)

· Make that a sixty day quarantine: "Quarantine Extended to 60 Days; Moratorium Recommended" (AVN)

· Variety (which just last month axed its porn news weblog due to advertiser squeamishness) put the Darren James story - with photo - on its front page: "Porn biz goes soft after HIV scare" (variety.com, via Hardcore Gossip)

· 4/15: Add Wicked, Jill Kelly Productions, Metro, Anabolic, Sin City and Private to the list of companies who have voluntarily stopped production for the duration of the quarantine. (via Hardcore Gossip and AVN)

· Hardcore Gossip also reports that one of the actresses who recently worked with Darren James has just tested positive for HIV, though it's not clear whether it's related to her working with James or not. (hardcoregossip.com, 4/15 entry - more @ AVN)

· Jason Sechrest posts a great response to criticisms that the gay porn industry should institute mandatory HIV testing for performers: "You tell me what is safer - having sex with a condom or having sex with someone who shows you a test that is at least less than 30 days old?" (jasoncurious.com)

· Mainstream publications are beginning to pick up the story (there are 121 Google News references as of this writing); Jill Kelly is quoted in the Guardian as saying "Anyone who continues to shoot at this point are complete idiots." (guardian.co.uk)

· A blunt, well-argued, pro-porn "civilian" take on the crisis from writer Brian Flemming: "It's important for porn to be legal. The government has no business outlawing sex or sexual fantasy. But this principle is not so sacred that we need to allow an industry to exploit and endanger its workers. There's no fundamental right to express HIV. There's no right to pay someone to play Russian roulette for your entertainment." ("Let Them Eat HIV" @ slumdance.com)

· AVN interviews Lara Roxx ("the first innocent victim of the HIV firestorm sweeping through the adult industry"): "I thought porn people were the cleanest people in the world." (AVN)

· Director and "porn historian" Jim Holliday talks about his decision to continue shooting condom-free porn: "As far as I'm concerned, I'm going to continue shooting exactly like I have been. I will never force anyone to do anything that they don't want to do ... Fans don't want to see rubbers. And I'm going to continue to shoot with no condoms." (Adult FYI)
 

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