California Is Forcing Porn Stars To Wear The Weirdest Protection Ever

The porn industry knows a thing or two about protection. Lately the porn industry has been battling the rule which enforces condom use. But, this time around California may be going a few steps too far with their latest protection proposal. New rules have the potential of being introduced by the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHA) which would require porn stars to wear a new type of protection—goggles.

The rules have yet to be finalized but the OSHA proposed the requirement to wear eye gear for many scenes in adult films last week. They are also trying to impose stricter hygiene standards and outlaw common porn practices, according to The Washington Post. But adult film actors, the porn companies they work for, and even some health advocates are arguing that the new rules are completely unnecessary. Diane Duke, CEO of the Free Speech Coalition told The Washington Post that these rules could risk shutting down the entire industry:

This isn’t the first time California has tried to enforce health regulations on their porn industry. California, which produces the vast majority of adult films in the U.S., has seen a major crackdown in the past few years. First, a few years ago, a law requiring the use of condoms on set was enforced, and as a result production plummeted by more than 90 percent. These rules have been pushing porn companies to move their business elsewhere, specifically towards Las Vegas and South Florida.

But, the stricter hygiene standards are a major debate when it comes to health and safety, and one man, Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation is using his platform to try and create change. Over the years Weinstein has continuously attacked the industry for their dangerous procedures and refusal to use condoms. His group claims that “at least four adult performers… have become infected with HIV while working in the adult film industry, while thousands of other adult performers became infected with thousands of other sexually-transmitted diseases.”

In response, the Free Speech Coalition has disputed that there has not been once instance of contracted HIV on a porn set since 2004 and the testing procedures are safe, so condoms should be a preference. Many companies argue that these enforced rules are based in stigma, and if condoms have caused so many problems, then goggles may end the industry indefinitely.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens if these rules are enforced, but from the sound of it, it would mean a lot less porn.