Condoms, Dental Dams, Latex Gloves and Bobo Dolls

You may have heard that LA porn performers could soon be required to wear condoms during on-screen sex.  The Los Angeles City Council voted 11-1 for the proposal, but another vote must be cast before final approval.  That said, the industry seems to be thorough about testing their performers -- in fact, according to some (e.g. Diane Duke) they're so effective that HIV contraction in porn is at an all-time low.  So why are we being told that this is an issue of safety?

Firstly, I'm all for modeling the use of barrier contraception in films.  Modeling has been shown to be incredibly powerful in instigating social change (just look to Bandura's classic Bobo Doll experiment for an example), and I think we'd all find condoms/dental dams sexier if we started associating them with red-hot porn.  That said, are condoms less reliable than actual testing?  Condoms can tear, right?  So will directors no longer insist that their performers are tested if the condom-wearing rule is passed?  I mean, barrier methods cost money, so something will surely have to give.  Dental dams would be required too, it seems, for vaginal oral sex, though the press aren't talking about that so much.  (Possibly because vaginal oral sex doesn't have to involve a penis?!).  Plus according to Alternet, the language in the ruling might suggest that latex gloves and goggles would also be required.

Unless you're into gloves and goggles, this might be a tadge distracting.

Interesting times.