Seventeen performers in the adult-film industry have tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS. The Los Angeles Times piece points out that San Fernando Valley pornographers employ about 1,200 performers. Unsurprisingly, the industry regulars regularly come down with venereal diseases. The Times reports, "Since 2004, 2,378 people who identified themselves as adult film industry performers have tested positive for chlamydia in Los Angeles County. An additional 1,357 tested positive for gonorrhea and 15 for syphilis, according to data released Thursday by the county's health department." One actress, diagnosed with HIV on June 5, was back to work the following day. I don't think her boss would have been displeased had she called in sick.

This is one of the big reasons I quit doing porn.

The AIDS scare... what a joke. Most people who have HIV/AIDS have abnormal lifestyles. 50% are gay men. Another large chunk includes prostitutes and drug addicts. And then there's the porn stars.

I do not understand why it's such a bogeyman.

I remember seeing a story a few years ago when this happened, and the poor girl involved was saying how that porn life was supposed to be temporary for her. That she hoped to have a family some day, kids...and that now that she had AIDS, any hope of that sort of life was gone.

I don't feel bad for anybody who indulges in risky behavior. Thems the breaks.