LOS ANGELES — In early April 2004 the Southern California adult film industry was sent into a tailspin after the announcement that a Los Angeles based male performer tested positive for HIV. Although the performer contracted HIV while out of the country, he returned to film in Los Angeles and worked without condoms, resulting in the infection of three female performers. These needless infections have been at the forefront of much controversy over whether or not condoms should be legally mandated in the pornography film industry.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation’s largest AIDS organization, contends that porn film producers should voluntarily agree to 100% condom use during filming. Larry Flynt, the publisher and figurehead of Flynt Publications (Hustler films) has been an influential leader in the pornography industry over past decades and is in a position to change the way that heterosexual pornographic films view condom usage. According to a recent op- ed piece in the Los Angeles Times, Flynt argues that “market testing — and conventional wisdom — tells us that films that feature actors wearing condoms don’t sell.” AHF argues that this simply does not have to be true and AIDS advocates plan on going to his doorstep to tell him this.

Protesters and AIDS activists will rally outside of Flynt Publications on Thursday, June 17th 2004 at 10:00 a.m. sending the message “Larry Flynt, do the right thing!” Press conference will follow at 10:30 a.m. Larry Flynt’s new book “Sex, Lies and Politics” is set to be released Friday, June 18th 2004.

Speakers are Michael Weinstein, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, President Rebekka Armstrong, HIV Positive AIDS Activist and former Playboy Bunny