HIV-positive porn performer speaks out

[belamyi]

He stated he only had sex with his girlfriend off camera and did not distinguish between personal/business life. If his ad stated AIM tested then its obvious that he was advertising for more then just companionship or a massage. In other words, he was having sex with men off camera.

As I have said before, that is no surprise to me. It is not just about personal experience, however it may help. It demands little effort, if actually any, to discover what sort of people would never do something and who needs only one or two or three more zeros (very rarely more) after a number above 100 to give in... given the career profile of that guy he didn't even need that last push.

However, the fact that he advertised himself as AIM tested does not automatically make AIM responsible for what he does in his sexual life after the tests. If those tests were coupled with certified psychological profiles and a following of his persona, like with food products and the like (hey, after all this is about what enters your body and may endanger or not your health), then it could have some solid base and you could consider it of some value. The distinction I mentioned was referring to the report of "clinic officials"... that's what sounded so messy to me: it does not show any, let's say, objective detachment typical of people who just "do their job", but it does show a personal following of the patient which is obviously defective, since they talk as if they were certifying a part of his behaviour while admitting that they didn't know anything about the rest: that was my point in my posts above, you either just make tests and have nothing else to say about the patient, or you make a compromise to follow and certify his sexual health.

Heck, do you think that I consider of any worth those advertising strategies when I decide to hire an escort myself? I do not need to be obsessed or paranoid, I simply do some homework when I want to meet stranger who is going to have some bearing on my sexual or professional or whatever part of my life. When I have the time or rather the interest, I follow profiles, telephones, voyages, interact with the escort and then decide according to all that data, and since I am so picky and have tried so many types before, while I have my share of daily porn I do not mind to let weeks or even months pass before meeting him (which also saves money after all)... hell, I do not even consider other clients' reviews when coming to make my decisions, and it's not AIDS or robbery or whatever of the sort that I have in mind, I simply want to decide with what sort of people I want to spend my time... and vice versa, however odd it may sound. In fact it's too often (sigh) cleaner and more honest to meet someone in a business situation than in a confuse and confusing sentimental or merely personal one... there are far, far more cheaters in personal profiles than in business escorting profiles because there are real escorts out there who, like any people making a living, want to make money and keep making it for as long as they can, and those who only want to scam are exactly like the emotional "for-free" scammers, and that when they do not come together in one single person...

We all interact with each other, but the degree of involvement and commitment in any of those relations is what brings about the moral and legal responsibilities, and your right to claim this or that against whomever or whatever.

 

[CowboyBob]

None of this adds up.

He's being used as a pawn (or paid by) by those who are insisting porn performers must use condoms.

He's not completely straight either. He may have a girlfriend but he's at the very least bi, so there's something he's not talking about.

And the biggest thing that bugs me in any interview is when the person being interviewed keeps repeating "you know"... "you know"....."you know" which he did more times than I could count. It's nervousness and very annoying.

 

[belamyi]

None of this adds up.

He's being used as a pawn (or paid by) by those who are insisting porn performers must use condoms.

He's not completely straight either. He may have a girlfriend but he's at the very least bi, so there's something he's not talking about.

And the biggest thing that bugs me in any interview is when the person being interviewed keeps repeating "you know"... "you know"....."you know" which he did more times than I could count. It's nervousness and very annoying.

No matter what his actual job were, he's a porn doll: how many phrases would you expect to be recorded on his HDD?

 

[Ninja108]

Considering all the other STD he got before he tested poz for HIV, it's quite clear that in his personal life, his girlfriend wasn't the only person he refused to use condoms with.

 

[belamyi]

<chuckle> CowboyBob, I thought I was the only one to notice that.

In fact, he said "you know" so many times that I, irritated beyond my capacity, couldn't finish watching the video.

That should teach you about watching young porn stars in all-talking, G-rated videos.

 

[belamyi]

Considering all the other STD he got before he tested poz for HIV, it's quite clear that in his personal life, his girlfriend wasn't the only person he refused to use condoms with.

Unless his girlfriend's slit is of the everybody's-welcome-in sort (sorry, right now that's the best transposition of "el coño de la Bernarda" that I can come up with).

 

[CowboyBob]

<chuckle> CowboyBob, I thought I was the only one to notice that.

In fact, he said "you know" so many times that I, irritated beyond my capacity, couldn't finish watching the video.

I Counted 17 "you knows" in his short interview.

You see that ALOT when news people interview someone in the studio or on the street. They become nervous and utter "you know"...."you know"...."you know"..... constantly between thoughts. That's incredibly annoying.

 

[CowboyBob]

You see that ALOT when news people interview someone in the studio or on the street. They become nervous and utter "you know"...."you know"...."you know"..... constantly between thoughts. That's incredibly annoying.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YF_pN8pWvg[/ame]


UPDATE:


OOPS, you know, meant that as an edit, you know, not a reply, you know. Sorry.

You know.

 

[BobbyV]

I don't see any black or white issues here; and most of the rest of you don't either. I am saddened when anyone is diagnosed with HIV. But; this isn't just about HIV, according to this performer he tested positive for other STD's prior to his HIV test.

This story (and too many others like it) has given me no small amount of pause. As I stated in my original post; I feel a need to reflect about the choices I make as a consumer of adult entertainment. I really appreciate hearing all of the comments thus far.

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

So wait... he claims he got it from a shoot where he used a condom... but he's calling for... condom use...

And he says he only had sex with his girlfriend... which means he was advertising Samba Lessons on RentBoy, I guess.

I have no facts. But I'm thinking he doesn't have many, either.

 

[Dudepussy]

ON this video, he says he likes to bottom. What are the chances he has only bottomed on an adult video set?


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohcyp5S6Lm0[/ame]

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

I think these points are stupid.

You can think what you want.

but you've made it pretty clear that you don't understand the issue and are just signing on the hysteria.

 

[Ninja108]

Like others have said, I don't buy his story for a minute. If nothing else, the scenes in question he blames his HIV status on show NOTHING in the realm of what he said happened.
And what he says about his private life... bull. I have no doubt not only was he barebacking with other men but other women as well. Yes, HIV risk is highest for gay men, but it's not exclusive, nor are other STDS,of which he has three.
To me, Derek sounds more like someone who was willing to have sex with anything human, man or woman, safe sex be damned.
IMO,now that it's come home to roost, he's blaming it on the gays,because I think he still hates the fact he likes having sex with men. His girlfriend or other women he hooked up with couldn't possibly have given him any of the STDS, only the icky gays.
The industry seems to forget the last time there was an HIV outbreak, it was a straight man with all women, not a gay in sight.
I feel bad for Derek and what he will go through for the rest of his life, but his story is filled with lies. And that doesn't help anyone.

 

[Piquechampion]

I have a feeling that scumbags like those at the AFA, Family Research Council, etc. are going to prey on this young man misfortunes and use it for their perverted agendas....

 

[XLeatherX]

I feel bad for him and it is sad when someone becomes Poz. I hope he can get on medications and takes them.

I saw the article posted on Yahoo news and most people were writing comments like "blah blah blah he deserves to be Poz and die of AIDS!", "He's going to hell!", and "He gets what he deserves for doing porn!" all while flat out denying that lots of straight people are Poz and don't get tested and don't use condoms because they think that HIV is something that only gay and bisexual men and IV drug users need to worry about.

Condoms do break and people do get common STDs like he got at first from oral sex. You can get HIV from giving oral sex and swallowing or taking cum in your mouth if you don't have the best oral or dental health.

Modern day Bareback porn is sleazy and wrong any way you look at it.

 

[Ninja108]

I feel bad for him and it is sad when someone becomes Poz. I hope he can get on medications and takes them.

I saw the article posted on Yahoo news and most people were writing comments like "blah blah blah he deserves to be Poz and die of AIDS!", "He's going to hell!", and "He gets what he deserves for doing porn!" all while flat out denying that lots of straight people are Poz and don't get tested and don't use condoms because they think that HIV is something that only gay and bisexual men and IV drug users need to worry about.

Condoms do break and people do get common STDs like he got at first from oral sex. You can get HIV from giving oral sex and swallowing or taking cum in your mouth if you don't have the best oral or dental health.

Modern day Bareback porn is sleazy and wrong any way you look at it.

My bigger problem with the whole thing is this. There is no denying HIV and other STDS are easily passed among unprotected male to male sex. But straight people can and do get all of the STDS as well HIV. This article and performer fails to state that in his gay scenes, he DID use condoms. It also fails to mention the last time there was a outbreak of HIV in the straight porn world, there was no g4pay or bisexual in sight. More to the point, this guy got three other major STDS before HIV and it clearly didn't make him stop his bad personal habits. Sorry, I'm not blaming gay porn on this one.

 

[XLeatherX]

My bigger problem with the whole thing is this. There is no denying HIV and other STDS are easily passed among unprotected male to male sex. But straight people can and do get all of the STDS as well HIV. This article and performer fails to state that in his gay scenes, he DID use condoms. It also fails to mention the last time there was a outbreak of HIV in the straight porn world, there was no g4pay or bisexual in sight. More to the point, this guy got three other major STDS before HIV and it clearly didn't make him stop his bad personal habits. Sorry, I'm not blaming gay porn on this one.

I did a search on this guy and apparently his "girlfriend" did porn too so she could have had those STDs or had HIV. I saw an interview on youtube with this guy and he comes across as a gay man and pretty flaming too.

I still don't think he deserved to become Poz even if he was a prostitute and did porn.

Here's a link to the article I read about him.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_porn_industry_hiv

 

[Ninja108]

I did a search on this guy and apparently his "girlfriend" did porn too so she could have had those STDs or had HIV. I saw an interview on youtube with this guy and he comes across as a gay man and pretty flaming too.

I still don't think he deserved to become Poz even if he was a prostitute and did porn.

Here's a link to the article I read about him.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_porn_industry_hiv

Me either, no one deserves HIV. I think he's bi or gay4pay but regardless,his bad habits have now caught up with him. I also have to be blunt, HIV is NOT the only deadly STD out there, we focus so much on that sometimes we forget about the ones out there.

 

[XLeatherX]

I think these points are stupid.
If this guy was ultimately a female, for which escorted on the side, I think a lot of the issues would still apply. It shoudl be assumed your partner is HIGH RISK for contracting an STI if you are in porn. You cannot account for sexual activity in someones time off set, regardless of sexual preference. Anyone can contract this disease, gay or straight. But notice how the AIM are emphasizing a 'personal lifestyle' instead of actually admitting this is a problem with the sex workers profession in general.

I agree with this. You should assume that everyone that you're having sex with is Poz or could be Poz and still have safer sex with them.

Last year, a woman tested positive for HIV immediately after making an adult film. And in 2004, an HIV outbreak spread through the adult film community, briefly halting filming at several California studios. Up to 14 people were said to have been infected during on-camera sex with a male actor.

Under law, porn actors are required to test negative for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases within 30 days of filming.

Officials in L.A. have blasted the adult film industry for the lack of condom use on porn sets.

Darren James, the adult film actor at the center of the 2004 HIV scare criticized the industry for again failing to protect actors from being infected.

James tested negative days before being filmed. Later, a test came back positive, and James learned that he spread HIV to three actresses who he worked with.

"I knew it was going to happen," James told the Los Angeles Times. "And how many years has it been? Again. They went right back to the same habits."

 

[AnthonyJK]

I agree with this. You should assume that everyone that you're having sex with is Poz or could be Poz and still have safer sex with them.

Last year, a woman tested positive for HIV immediately after making an adult film. And in 2004, an HIV outbreak spread through the adult film community, briefly halting filming at several California studios. Up to 14 people were said to have been infected during on-camera sex with a male actor.

Under law, porn actors are required to test negative for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases within 30 days of filming.

Officials in L.A. have blasted the adult film industry for the lack of condom use on porn sets.

Darren James, the adult film actor at the center of the 2004 HIV scare criticized the industry for again failing to protect actors from being infected.

James tested negative days before being filmed. Later, a test came back positive, and James learned that he spread HIV to three actresses who he worked with.

"I knew it was going to happen," James told the Los Angeles Times. "And how many years has it been? Again. They went right back to the same habits."

I am straight (but not narrow) and normally not a visitor to forums like this, but I have been following this story as a follower of porn and a supporter of safe sex and performer choice.

I was referred to this thread through former (straight) porn performer Julie Meadows's blog reports on the Derrick Burts affair.

Although it is encouraging that people are challenging Burts' story and his explottation by those wanting to mandate condoms, there are still some misconceptions about AIM and the mainstream porn testing regime that must be clarified.

1) AIM is exactly what is says it is: an agency that provides testing for porn performers and others. The only reason that it is linked to the porn industry is because the latter uses their testing system as a means of screening out potential infection. They are no more "an agent of the porn industry" than FedEX is an agent of Walmart; they simply provide testing services.

2) Whatever one may think of AIM and their methods, the facts on the ground show that their testing regime has done a very effective job of containing HIV outbreaks from spreaiding. The 2004 oiutbreak involving Darrin James ended up infecting only 4 performers (not 14, as implied in the entirely biased article). And a similar scare taking place last year resuled in NO invfections other than the original "Patient Zero".

3) In the current scare, the testing found that no other person (performer or otherwise) other than Derrick Burts tested positive for HIV+...and that included his girlfriend, who is still an active performer. As part of the testing procedure, all "first generation and second generation" partners whom may have had sex with the targeted performer are also tested, with retests done as follow up.

4) For those who are not familiar with the testing regimen: the standard is to get tested once a month. A clean test puts you on a database that is then spread to porn companies who use the list to clear talent for production. Many performers, though, enforce much stricter standards, requiring a clean test after as few as two days before approving shoots. And many other performers do in fact mandate that their partners in shoots use condoms.

5) Mr. Burts' changing explanation for how he got infected exactly, as well as his history as an gay escort, definitely sheds new light into his motives. He claims to blame AIM for not providing him with the necessary treatment...but why should they when they are NOT responsible for him getting infected to begin with?? Their statement that he was infected outside of the industry is fundamentally correct; though their use of "personal extracurricular activity" might be a bit questionable. (At least, until Burts' RentBoy ad was revealed.)

6) My position on condom usage is the same as most performers: Let them make the choice themselves as to how to best protect themselves from STI's. Some will demand condooms; some won't due to personal reasons. But, at the very least, those who do the actual fucking on set should have the predominant say in whether or not they need to demand condoms on set. This is NOT anti-condom; this is pro-performer choice.

7) And finally...as a general supporter of sexual expression and human rights (and that includes gay rights, too); I want to make it perfectly clear that this is NOT in any way an attack on gay men who do porn or even gay escorts. This is strictly about holding an individual accountable for his actions and words, and about an organization exploiting his apparent lies and distortions to push a political agenda that would do major harm to innocent people. Nothing more, nothing less.

I appreciate you giving me the space to reply.


Anthony