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HIV+ Porn Actor: Make Condoms Mandatory

'Patient Zeta' says 'dangerous' industry needs reform

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 8, 2010 6:31 AM CST | Updated Dec 8, 2010 8:47 AM CST

(Newser) – The porn actor who tested positive for HIV this fall is going public and calling for mandatory condom use for the entire porn industry. Derrick Burts—previously known only as Patient Zeta—says the industry's stance that testing for STDs is sufficient is "completely false," adding that he had previously tested positive for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes in his monthslong career. The 24-year-old, who worked in both gay and straight porn, thinks he contracted the virus in a gay porn shoot; he notes that gay films require condoms for sex, but not oral sex.

Burts says the industry's health clinic is now claiming he was infected due to personal activity, although the only person he had sex with outside filming was his girlfriend, a fellow performer who is not infected. Burts says he wishes he had known more about the risks. "Making $10,000 or $15,000 for porn isn't worth your life," he tells the Los Angeles Times, calling the industry "dangerous." "Performers need to be educated."

AIM promised they would help me set up a doctor and get treatment, Burts said. They did none of that.
"AIM promised they would help me set up a doctor and get treatment," Burts said. "They did none of that."   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Dr. Sharon Mitchell speaks to porn actress  'Boo D. Licious' at the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation clinic.
Dr. Sharon Mitchell speaks to porn actress 'Boo D. Licious' at the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation clinic.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
Pozpersonal
Dec 9, 2010 8:33 PM CST
My friend told me a report from CNN said that the world's largest HIV dating and support site Positivefish. com (he told me that it's powered by plenty of fish) now has more than 550,000 members! The report also indicated that HIV rates soar worldwide and CDC had granted CSU $1.9M for HIV/AIDS education to lower the rates of HIV transmission.
J.S.
Dec 8, 2010 5:32 PM CST
AIDS/HIV is preventable...no sympathy.
Ivan
Dec 8, 2010 5:07 PM CST
umm so he got STDs before and only contracting HIV made him think of a condom? How dumb.

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