The Encyclopedia Of Smut: The Safe Sex Appendix

Right now the adult industry is fighting an uphill battle to make sure people vote no on Measure B, an initiative that will mandate the use of condoms for all acts of vaginal and anal penetration on porn sets. We thought this would be a good time to take a look at how safe sex--in its many wondrous forms--applies to pornography.

Our Stance On Safety

If we lived in Los Angeles, we would vote no on Measure B. We're very much against regulations that require porn performers to slap condoms on in the name of safe sex when they're already practicing safe sex. For the most part, performers feel satisfied with the self-imposed testing routines that are in place, and it's been extremely effective in keeping them healthy. There are a lot of performers who do use condoms, and that's cool, too, but the key is that it's their choice to use them, not a government mandate.

Earlier this year, Jiz Lee wrote a brilliant article called "Safer Sex in Queer Porn and the Condom Debate," and a paragraph of theirs beautifully sums up why performers should be in charge of their prophylactic destinies:

How does giving models the choice best protect their sexual health? I believe a choice with a range of protections is better than one blanket-level standard (whether it's barriers, or testing) for a number of reasons: mainly, it allows for flexibility depending on the models' diverse needs. All our needs are different. Some models are real-life partners who are fluid-bonded and monogamous with their own testing precautions, or, poly/non-monogamous lovers who have specific arrangements. Some models are sex workers and have boundaries in porn that they may or may not have with their clients. For some models, it's their first and only porn performance. For some models who work in LA or other industry porn, it's a special shoot that allows them to have whatever kind of sex they want, or to perform with partners who are outside mainstream aesthetics. Models have different sexual histories, so choices in safer sex practices may vary based on our needs.

[Above: Kaylani Lei is "serving society with raunchy sex" in "XXX Avengers"]

C-c-c-c-condom Breaker

One of the most underrated arguments (at least as far as the arguments mainstream media often presents) against the use of condoms on porn sets is that they can actually hurt the performers who have sex with them. As Nina Hartley mentioned to Hugo Schwyzer, "condom burn is a real issue. The friction from the latex, even with lubrication, is painful and breaches the integrity of my mucosal membranes, putting me at greater risk for disease transmission." It's one thing for a civilian to put one on and have sex for a few minutes, but it's quite another when a performer like Nina is taking at least a half-hour of pounding from a jumbo jet of a cock. Others note that latex and other materials used in condoms degrade when used for a long stretch of time.

Safe sex goes beyond condoms, of course, and there are many practices in porn that don't get any safer when you throw latex into the mix. For example, anytime you move a penis, toy, or finger from one's ass to one's mouth or vagina, you run the risk of transmitting harmful bacteria from the colon into environments that can get infected. Enemas definitely reduce the risk of that happening, but they don't guarantee it.

Still, as long as the performers themselves are making informed choices and doing what works best for them, then they can keep the ATM coming because it's kind of sexy as hell.

[Above: Condoms may break, but not this girl, for she is "Jessie Rogers: Unbreakable"]

Barrier Backlash

Yesterday, Jiz Lee and Courtney Trouble both came out with blog posts discussing the backlash against sexual barriers (they called it a "blog jinx"). They bring up the fact that while condoms, dental dams, and other protective equipment isn't for everybody, some people fucking love that stuff and it can be every bit as sexy as barebacking.

After all, you like sex toys, don't you? So what's the difference between those and barriers? You don't have to have a medical fetish to be excited about slapping on a pair of latex gloves; for some, like Jiz Lee, it's part of the ritual and it gets them excited. And if we might borrow another bit of Jiz Lee's wisdom:

For me, safer sex can be hot sex because it helps me feel more confident and comfortable. I feel more freed to enjoy myself. Also, it's fun to explore. Not too long ago, I gave dental dams another try, and I discovered that I LOVED the pressure of the thin, taut material against my vulva. I got so aroused by the barrier, that I forcefully ejaculated against it. Imagine pointing a fire hose against a window. That was me.

If you think barriers are boring, then the only solution is to get creative. Try different brands, diversify your lubricant collection, learn new ways to apply them to yourself and your partner, but for the love of heart and hole don't bash the materials that make safe sex possible. Unless you're going to only engage in kissing, mutual masturbation, and dry humping for the rest of your life, then you're going to need tools like condoms, dental dams, gloves, female condoms, and finger cots. As awesome as frottage is, you're going to get sore eventually.

For more discussions about safe sex, Measure B, and the porn industry, we heartily suggest looking at (in no particular order):

· Why Condom Laws in Porn Are a Bad Idea by Hugo Schwyzer
· Testing vs. Condoms in Pornography by the one and only Stoya
· Two articles by Jiz Lee: Safer Sex Can Be Hot! and Safer Sex in Queer Porn and the Condom Debate
· Safer Sex Is Hot – Government Regulation is Not by Courtney Trouble
· The Condom Debate (As I See It) by Danny Wylde
· And B is for Condoms, and other illogical arguments by our very own Gram Ponante

[Above: Courtney Trouble's response to a similar image run by Girlfriends Films, via Courtney Trouble's Blog. All video clips courtesy of AEBN Porn Pay Per View Network and Video On Demand (theater.aebn.net)]

[At top: She's safe from STDs as well as rain, via Only Big Melons (only-bigmelons.com)]