A lot has been going on in the world of politics as our country is coming closer and closer to the presidential election. While Clinton and Trump are obviously receiving a lot of press due to the election, other political figures and ideas are finding themselves in the limelight for the changes they are proposing as well. 

The state of California is turning heads due to Proposition 60 which states that adult film actors and actresses would be required to wear condoms during any scenes displaying anal or vaginal intercourse, reported the Los Angeles Times.

Along with this, Proposition 60 requires that producers of these films would have to pay for vaccinations and testing for all forms of sexually transmitted diseases. Producers will also be required to get a state health license every two years while also notifying the State Division of Occupational Safety and Health anytime they shoot a film or they could face $70,000 in fines, according to the LA Times.

Proposition 60 was introduced by the president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Michael Weinstein. After various polls, 64 percent of female California voters stated they would vote in favor of Proposition 60 come November, while 44 percent of male voters stated they would vote in favor of Proposition 60, according to The LA Times.

Rick Taylor, a consultant for the Yes on Proposition 60 campaign, stated to the LA Times, “We think Californians are getting it: This is about workers’ safety”.

Many other hot topics are on the California ballot for this coming November. Two of them being further regulations on ammunition sales and the legalization of recreational marijuana, reported the LA Times.

While many seem to be in favor of Proposition 60, other groups are showing their opposition, such as the Free Speech Coalition, according to the LA Times.

Proposition 60 is a good idea for a lot of different reasons. If you consider the life of an adult film star, it is highly possible for them to contract STDs or other infectious diseases. Requiring treatment for these diseases is how we can prevent their spread to others. For some, this is a career and a way of putting food on the table, therefore they deserve to work in a safe, healthy environment where medical needs are met.

In addition, the requirement of wearing condoms could have a large impact on the sexually active youth of the world. Sexual health is a huge issue in the United States. According to the American Sexual Health Association, there are an approximated number of 110 million prevalent STIs among women and men in the United States. 20 percent or 22.1 million of those infections occurred among women and men ages 15 to 24 as of 2008.

Sure, one could argue that having adult film stars wear condoms will not change the sexual behavior of others, but The Huffington Post reported that 40 percent of boys between grades 4 and 11 have viewed porn online. This tells me that more people watch porn than we tend to assume. So, if people are going to watch it, we should promote healthy sexual habits while doing so. This will prevent STDs and STIs along with also preventing potential unplanned pregnancies. According to the New York State Department of Health, latex condoms work well against HIV and many other STD’s such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Therefore, by making adult film stars wear condoms during intercourse, the industry is promoting positive sexual health habits which will benefit others in the long run. If you are going to be sexually active, it is incredibly important to be smart about it. Using condoms can help protect you from some STDs and STIs.

Condoms also are fairly effective at preventing pregnancy. According to Planned Parenthood, if condoms are used perfectly every time, they are 98 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. If not used perfectly, every time you engage in sexual activity, condoms are 82 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. Planned Parenthood sums it up by stating that about 18 out of every 100 people that use condoms as their only birth control method will get pregnant each year.

In conclusion, Proposition 60 has some good points to it that not only will look out for the health of adult film actors and actresses, but could also have other benefits such as promoting sexual health and good sexual habits, and has the ability to help prevent unplanned pregnancies and the spread of STDs and STIs.