By Matt Simonette

Staff writer

Members of the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus met April 3 at the DuSable Museum of African-American History for their first quarterly 2008 meeting, focusing their discussion on the adult entertainment industry and its role in influencing the sexual health of gay African American men.

Panelists and CBGMC members spoke primarily on adult entertainment’s role in disseminating information about sex. While some in the industry speak of its forward-thinking response to HIV/AIDS—ensuring that performers are regularly tested, for example—many argue that the industry still has much to rethink. For example, barebacking videos, with performers not wearing condoms, are steadily rising in popularity.

“There is a big niche for barebacking videos,” said panelist JC Carter, who has appeared in several films. He suggested that within several months sales of barebacking videos would overtake those of videos with performers wearing condoms.

Dr. William Wong, of the Chicago Department of Public Health, added that this popularity coincided with widespread use of medications that have improved the quality of life for persons with HIV/AIDS.

“Barebacking is role-modeling bad behavior. The adult entertainment industry is a part of the community,” Wong said, adding that, as such, the industry has an obligation to disseminate responsible portrayals of sexuality.

Wong said that the health of the performers is ultimately a concern as well. When they come from poor homes and have no immediately discernible skills, he said, there are often huge incentives to partake in risky acts.

“There are certainly porn stars who engage in that by choice, but…there is a risk in getting exploited,” Wong said.

Anre, who has directed several adult films, spoke of widespread efforts in the industry to at least make sure that performers are checked for diseases regularly.

“Actors have to be tested every 15 days,” he said.

Anre also added that one online resource, the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation, facilitates testing for performers and verifies online what their status is. Despite the privacy implications—testing results would be available online to those paying to see them—Anre said that many producers require their performers to participate in order to get hired.

An audience member suggested that messages about abstinence might be most effective in addressing HIV/AIDS. Another adult performer, Tahjaleenie Tahji, responded sharply, “Abstinence works (only) for individuals who will never have sex.”

Tahji added that more open and honest discussions of sexuality were needed with young people.

“We need rappers, actors, models and singers to talk to teenagers,” he said, adding that youths need to be told that safe sex is more than remembering protection. “We have to say to them, ‘We want you to slow down and think about this.’”

Activist Keith Green mentioned that issues surrounding young people’s self-images need to be more widely talked about in the community.

“There’s a desire in us to be wanted and to be seen. The coolest thing is not to be in school. The cool thing (right now) is to be a thug and to be seen as a thug,” Green said. With more respect for their bodies, he added, young people are more likely to engage in safe-sex practices.

Green concluded by saying that, while the adult industry needs to step up, it will do what it can to keep making money, and the impetus falls on everyone to be educated about safe sex.

“We have a responsibility to ourselves and the community. This is a capitalist society, and there’s supply and demand,” Green said.