Bisexual porn star Derrick Burts is
calling for mandatory condom use in the straight adult film industry
after acquiring HIV.
Burts performed in gay films as Derek
Chambers and as Cameron Reid in straight films.
In October, Burts tested positive for
the virus that causes AIDS. His diagnosis shut down the straight
adult film industry for more than a month. He was identified only as
“Patient Zeta” in media reports.
The 24-year-old former cruise ship
magician is now calling on the straight porn industry to follow the
lead of gay porn studios and mandate condom use.
Straight performers must submit to
monthly testing but do not wear condoms, while gay performers are
typically required to wear rubbers but testing is not mandated.
Appearing at a press conference, Burts
said the testing gives performers a false sense of security.
“They [producers] tell you that the
testing is there in place to protect you. They tell you, you'll get
tested every month. They have a clinic in place for performers
called AIM to protect you from getting STDs and HIV. So I felt that
with this in place I was more protected than outside in the real
world where I wasn't being tested. After being in the industry for
one month, I came up with three STDs … chlamydia, gonorrhea and
herpes,” he told reporters.
Burts went on to say that when he
tested positive for HIV he felt neglected.
“I started to realize … that AIM
wasn't there to protect me, or help me, they were there to protect
themselves.” (The video is embedded in the right panel panel of
this page.)
Clinic officials claim he must have
acquired the virus in his personal life because none of his co-stars
tested positive after one month, a fact Burts has denied, the Los
Angeles Times reported.
“It's very dangerous,” he said of
adult film work. “It should be required that you wear a condom on
the set.”