Concerns bareback porn could lead to health risks
A LEADING safer-sex body has expressed alarm at moves by a major porn studio to begin producing films with condom-free sex scenes.
The Victorian AIDS Council (VAC) says the announcement by Lucas Entertainment, that they would now concentrate on bareback films, could have a detrimental effect on efforts to encourage safer sex.
Michael Lucas, the head of the porn powerhouse, told Queerty that porn was a fantasy and that “no one fantasies about condoms.”
While his company had originally avoided barebacking scenes, consumers were now voting with their wallets.
“This is a business, and we can’t afford to ignore what consumers want from porn these days,” Lucas said.
He also said that condomless scenes were possible because “HIV treatments can now reduce viral loads to the point where, as far as we can tell, they pose little to no risk of transmission.”
He added: “Combine that with PrEP treatments for HIV-negative people, and we’re talking about a much, much lower danger than was previously the case.”
In addition, Lucas said all actors had to produce a negative HIV test result before filming could begin.
The move follows January’s announcement by Falcon Studios that they had digitally removed condoms from one of their films.
VAC chief executive Simon Ruth said it was impossible for viewers of bareback porn to know what measures had been taken to ensure the sex was safe.
“Condomless sex in porn could be viewed as the norm which could ultimately lead to more transmissions taking place in the future,” he said.
Ruth added that using treatment as prevention was only practical if people had honest discussions about HIV status and the range of treatment options, something which may not occur in many sexual situations.
“If none of those things are possible then condoms and water-based lube remain your best protection,” he said.
“We would welcome Mr Lucas educating the public with an explanation of the benefits and limitations of treatment as prevention at the beginning of each of his scenes.”
Replying to criticism his studio was legitimising unsafe sex, Lucas said: “I don’t think men go to porn for life lessons… They just want to get off. And we want to help them.”
