APAC Issues Statement on Precautionary Production Hold

[Mastan]

LOS ANGELES — The Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (APAC) has issued the following statement, after the precautionary four-day hold issued by the Free Speech Coalition today, in light of a PASS database-listed adult performer's potential HIV exposure:

"Due to an adult industry performer testing positive for HIV this week, the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (APAC) requests a temporary industry-wide production hold while doctors perform confirmatory tests. This is not believed to have been an on-set transmission. APAC will release a statement within the next few days regarding whether the production hold is called off or if a two-week moratorium is necessary.

"In compliance with HIPAA regulations, personal or health information about this patient is not allowed to be released. APAC is asking the performer community to show compassion towards each other and to our unnamed peer who is currently waiting for the results of their confirmatory test and to abstain from speculating about the patient’s identity.

"The Adult Performer Advocacy Committee’s mission is to support the safety and well-being of individual performers and our community. We stand against blaming specific performers for contracting HIV, and we encourage them to take steps to ensure HIV-negative scene partners are not exposed. If any performers impacted by this work-halt need emotional support or peers to connect with, APAC is available to help you through this period.

"We understand and acknowledge that a moratorium impacts every individual in the industry differently no matter how close or distant they are to the issue. It is imperative that we honor the call for a moratorium, hold each other with compassion and respect during this time.

"In the Free Speech Coalition statement calling for the precautionary production hold, the organization stated, 'We hope that we should be able to confirm the partner list and have retested any second-generation performers by Friday. If there is no evidence of additional risk, filming should be able to resume on Monday.”

"This request to honor the current production hold is made for the safety of our community as a whole and for performers’ individual safety.

"APAC encourages performers to reach out to their existing support systems."