SACRAMENTO, Nov. 9 (UPI) — A California ballot measure seeking to require performers in the adult film industry to wear condoms has been rejected.
With about 99 percent of California’s precincts reporting, 54 percent voted against Proposition 60 while 46 voted in favor.
Out of California’s 58 counties, the measure was approved in four counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial — all in Southern California.
Campaigners for “Yes” who supported Prop. 60 are estimated to have outspent the “No” campaign by a margin of about nine to one — $4.5 million was spent for “Yes” while $543,000 was spent for “No.”
The “No” to Prop. 60 campaign was spearheaded by the Free Speech Coalition, which argued the measure inhibited the rights of free speech.
In a statement, the Free Speech Coalition thanked the “millions of Californians who stood up against worker harassment.”
“This was a tremendous victory, not only for adult performers, but for science over stigma, and facts over fear. Adult industry workers no longer need to fear a punitive law that would have allowed any resident of the state to file suit against them,” the Free Speech Coalition wrote. “We hope this marks the beginning of a new, safer era for adult film performers and other workers in California — one in which worker voices and lived experiences are included in the legislation and regulation that affects their bodies and their lives.”
The California secretary of state’s office previously said that analysis suggested that if Prop. 60 passed, the state and local government could have “millions or tens of millions of dollars per year” in tax revenue, though the analysis also mentioned it was possible the measure could have reduced state and local health and human service program costs.
