Mark writes: Unfortunately, you were correct that if AIM were to identify the person Sharon Mitchell SUSPECTS is an STD carrier -- remember that AIM HAS NOT TESTED this person for the STDs -- she and AIM would be in a shitload of trouble, since the alleged STD carrier could sue her/AIM for slander. Mind you, if it could be ascertained that the person WAS STD-positive, Mitchell/AIM would win in court... but not until after the expenditure of thousands of bucks in legal fees; money which I understand AIM does not have.

Mitchell was smart from the start in requiring those tested at AIM to sign away their privacy rights as far as revealing the results of the tests to producers and other talent with whom they may work. There are a couple of companies out there who are FUCKING LUCKY that they haven't been sued by Certain Actresses who (allegedly) contracted HIV from Marc Wallice, and may I suggest that it's a bit disingenuous to second-guess this working system unless one has a better one to put in its place... and I didn't see such system described in your article.

If people who are tested at AIM don't want the results of such tests revealed to producers, there's an easy way to avoid that: Don't sign on for any acting jobs in the adult industry. Then your secret's safe -- unless you've worked with someone between your last clean test and the current (presumably dirty) one, in which case AIM is duty-bound (morally AND legally) to inform those who may have been exposed so that they can be treated.

Frankly, I'd be concerned about the "update" that the POSSIBLY STD-positive male has shown a "clean" test from another facility. I think I'd question why he didn't get the work done at AIM, which has proven to be exceptionally trustworthy in the past.

But the bottom line is, since there's no law to protect them -- and given the legendary problems with governmental attempts to regulate ANYTHING, much less the SEX INDUSTRY, I'm not so sure a law would be a Good Idea -- it's up to TALENT to refuse to work with anyone who doesn't present current, clean tests; certainly, an HIV test, but since there's at least one other incurable STD out there (Hep C), I'd think it wise that talent refuse to work with anyone who doesn't test clean for whatever battery of STD tests AIM offers.

Sadly, there are some shrinking violets in the talent pool who, due to their extreme lack of self-esteem, let others in (and out of) the industry walk all over them when it comes to things like THEIR OWN SAFETY. I'd recommend that those folks seek work in offices, or industries where knowledge of freedom-frying is required... but that might reduce the talent pool to the point where the industry might not be able to turn out its (roughly) 3000 original features per year. (Hey, I might be onto something here...)

The alternative, of course, is that they get over themselves and stand up for their own health. (If timidity is too major a problem, might I suggest getting little cards printed up, reading, "If you haven't got current tests to show me, certifying that you won't be giving me a potentially life-threatening disease during our scene, FUCK YOU... because I WON'T"?)

Is this the perfect solution? Probably not... but what AIM has going is better than anything I can come up with... and believe me, I've given it a bit of thought.

BTW, congrats to you for assuring that the talent that works for you sees each others' tests, and for examining them yourself, even if you're not sure you can detect a forgery. Recall that Wallice's "tests" were from a lab that only Cal Jammer had ever heard of, and he was two years dead at the time. Seems to me that a test from an unfamiliar lab would make for an easier job of forgery. (Plus, if there's any question, AIM can be called for verification; a system that I hope they can figure how to expand to 24 hrs/day.)

BTW: if I manage to take any 3Ds of Marina, I'll make sure to get you one, even if it does make your eyes go funny.

Kernes

jimmyD sez: Mark, if you manage to take any 3Ds of Marina and you don't arrange for me to be there when you take them I'll never forgive you!

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