March 6, 2008

News: Chi Chi LaRue Makes Anti-Bareback PSA


In answer to the continuing controversy surrounding barebacking within the porn industry, director Chi Chi LaRue has filmed a public-service announcement that clearly states her views on the topic. In the four-minute video, which was featured last night on the BBC’s popular Newsnight program in the United Kingdom, the large-and-in-charge Channel 1 Releasing co-owner addresses the difference between creating a fantasy world for consumers to enjoy and the reality of creating a safe environment for models to perform in. She also points out that the rate of HIV/AIDS infection among young men (ages 15-24) in this country is currently growing at an alarming pace. LaRue declares that she will “never, never, never make barebacking movies that put the models and the gay community at risk.”

The video, which can be seen at www.SafeSexIsHotSex.com, is featured on a new Web site that also includes links containing important statistical information from the Centers for Disease Control, APLA, AMFAR, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, AIDS Map News, LAMA and The New York Times. Visitors to the site are encouraged to get more information on HIV/AIDS and the importance of practicing safer sex from these particular Web sites.

“I am certainly not saying that barebacking movies are solely responsible for the huge increase in HIV infections,” LaRue says. “I think a lot of factors are at play. I think drug companies want us to think that HIV is just a simple and manageable condition. They never mention that a one-year supply of medication starts at $25,000! I think the lack of real sex education, thanks to our current conservative regime, is a factor. Let’s not forget the rampant drug abuse in the gay community, which is definitely a factor. I also think gay men are really just tired of talking and hearing about it! But we can’t stop talking about it… I think what we are seeing is a result of too many people being way too silent!”

Amen, sister! Now if only more members of the industry would speak out and make this message heard. As faithful readers know, VincentLambert.com does not condone, endorse, promote or write about bareback product. In our view, to do so would only encourage its sales and popularity, which would mean that companies only selfishly interested in their bottom line would produce more of it. But we have watched as these movies have soared to the top of the sales chart. Money talks, guys, so the next time you put down your hard-earned cash to buy, rent or download a bareback movie or scene, take a moment to think about exactly what you’re supporting. Are the health, safety and life of the models you’re watching really worth the price of you being entertained? You decide.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

great statement girl!
Brava

Ronnie Larsen said...

Another factor that leads to HIV infection is people who are high on crystal and not thinking clearly. Miss LaRue should tackle that issue, as well. She might also consider not hiring drug addicts and/or stop hanging out with drug addicts. I'd like to see the "brave" LaRue boycott all parties and events where drug use is rampant. Put your foot down about drugs and their might be a ripple effect regarding HIV. If you really care, take a stand. Words are cheap. And why not use condoms for oral sex if you're so worried about your models health? What about herpes and syphillis and hepatitis? A large majority of porn performers are HIV positive so any added STDs can't be good. The gay porn industry is nothing if not hypocritical and so I guess it's fitting that the delusional LaRue is it's spokesperson.

And yes I know the counter arguments:

"Every industry has drug addicts."

"At least she's trying to do something."

"There are some really nice people in the porn industry."

"You produced plays with drug addicted porn stars so who are you talk? You're a hypocrite, too."

Blah blah blah....I know the counter arguments. Save your breath.

It's a dark, dark industry. The alarming suicide rates in the gay porn industry are cause enough to scrutinize the porn movers and shakers. Thankfully, I'm not in that club.

Anonymous said...

99% of ur arguments are indeed rather silly but ur sort of right on the drugs aspect. Syphilis and herpes can be treated and hepatitis u can easily be vaccinated against, HIV is mortal without a cure..so miss larue is indeed doing a good job and ur just whining

Anonymous said...

I wrote this on the safesexishotsex.com website and am curious if anyone else has had the same thoughts.

ChiChi, i think your video is amazing and i hope that the folks that hear it take it to heart and continue safer sex practices or change their behaviors to prevent possible infection. I am curious though, and pardon my following comments for being a little "in perfect world." While i understand that pre-condom movies are in Channel One's catalog and I don't think it is right to place judgement on you for continuing to sell them, is it a little hypocritical to continue to supply VOD providers with Channel One movies that also "renting" bareback films on their VOD services? I only ask because you mention revenues and if there is a source for making money people will do it in your PSA.

Lets face it, in this time of electronic media it is much simpler to log onto nakedsword.com or aebn.com, watch a few minutes of a video and take care of business than buying a dvd. A multitude of folks are doing it or the VOD service providers wouldn't be able to stay afloat. Why would you allow your video's to also be marketed as content along the bareback content that you speak against. I would hope that people choose to watch films that use condoms but if you look at the most watched video's on nakedsword.com (at the time of this posting in the pay-per-minute section) 14 of the top 20 most viewed are bareback films, and 8 of the films that feature bareback sex have either the word bare, bareback, or barebacking in the title. I don't want to single out any one provider of VOD services, it was just that nakedsword.com and aebn.com seem to be the services that are most recognized for gay porn VOD services.

I applaud you for making this PSA and for continuing to say to folks that safer sex is hot sex. I hope that your videos impact folks to use safe sex practices when having sex. I hope people do not interpret my comments as a slam on ChiChi or her company, but i am curious, would you consider removing Channel One's videos from VOD providers that also rent films that feature bareback sex? I understand this is a business and you have to make money to provide us with quality, hot, safer-sex porn in the future. I am just asking you, out of complete respect, would it be to much to remove channel one's videos from online vod providers that also cater to those companies that are making bareback films?

I am just a consumer that believes in your ability to make people think with this video! Albeit a bit much, don't you think removing Channel One's content from sites that feature bareback porn a much bigger statement to the masses? Wouldn't you, by removing your videos from these sites make the statement that you not only don't and won't make condomless porn, but that you refuse to support in any manor those who seek to profit by marketing it?

I guess I am a little late in the game to make a comment on this PSA video, but I really thought long and hard about my words in this post. I continued to make revision after revision hoping to say what I though to be the right thing without slamming someone who clearly believes in what he/she says and is willing to draw the line and not cross it. I hope my post is taken in the spirit in which it is written, which is respect and admiration.

Michael


PS. i hope that my grammar isn't a distraction for folks reading this, I was a business student not an english major in college. :-)

Anonymous said...

Keep it going mme Larue! Merci!!

Anonymous said...

Have you seen LaRue's movies? They'd be boring even if they WERE bareback...if he (a man in a dress is still a 'he') really cared that much he wouldn't have hosted all-gay 'porn cruises' where who knows what went on. Whether he condoned it or not, sex of all kinds, wrapped and not, went on there. Saw it myself. And his "celebrity" (ewww) helped sell the tickets that may have cost some on the ship their future health. Tell ChowChow to eat another doughnut and shut the fuck up until he wipes the blood off his hands.