HIV scare puts porn films on hold

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., April 15 (UPI) -- An adult trade health care group in California Thursday called for a 60-day moratorium on X-rated film production after a performer tested positive for HIV.

The Sherman Oaks-based Adult Industry Medical Heath Care Foundation named the actor who tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS, and listed on its Web site more than a dozen actors believed to have had sexual contact with him recently, KABC-TV, Los Angeles, reported.

Adult film producer Jill Kelly told KABC a production moratorium would hurt the industry financially, but that she was willing to suspend filming to protect the performers. The San Fernando Valley hosts many of the top X-film producers/

"It would be nice to have the two months, but we're dealing with pornography," former porn star Sharon Mitchell told Daily Variety. Mitchell expressed skepticism about effective the moratorium would be among adult film producers who sometimes shoot several movies in a week.

KABC said the positive HIV test is reportedly the first since the industry started requiring performers to be regularly tested.