The porn industry is facing what could be its third shutdown this year and second in four months, after a performer tested positive for HIV.
Free Speech Coalition, a Southern California-based adult industry group, called for a production moratorium in a statement after learning the performer, who has not been identified, tested positive.
"There was a positive test at one of our testing centers," said CEO Diane Duke. "We are taking every precaution while we do research to determine if there's been any threat to the performer pool," the group's CEO, Diane Duke, said.
The group said additional tests will be performed and any partners of the performer who tested positive will be identified.
"We take the health of our performers very seriously and felt that it was better to err on the side of caution while we determine whether anyone else may have been exposed," Duke said.
Los Angeles County passed a law requiring actors in adult films to wear condoms during filming that went into effect last year. Since then, the number of films made in the county has dropped from 480 to 24. Proponents of the law, however, say it is not strictly enforced.