Lara Roxx
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Lara Roxx is a a Canadian porn actress who, in March 2004, became the first known individual in four years to contract HIV while making a porn video.
Roxx, while 19, contracted the HIV virus while doing a double-anal penetration scene with Darren James and another actor on March 24, 2004. Both male actors were strangers to Roxx, but she relied on the industry's HIV standards to ensure she was safe. Because double-anal penetration involves so much stretching and tearing of tissues, conditions could not be much more ideal for Roxx to contract the deadly virus. The fact that the scene was her first double-anal guaranteed maximum risk.
Other actors in the scene included Mark Anthony and Maxxx Black. Other actresses that may have contracted the virus from James include Rayveness, Banesca and 10 other actresses. John Strong, who had sexual contact with Banesca, may have also contracted the virus. All these actors have been placed under "voluntary quarantine" from erotic acting until their status can be positively identified (approximately by June of 2004). James and Roxx, of course, have been banned from any further porn production in the US. At the end of April 2004 it was confirmed that Jessica Dee, after having worked with James, also tested positive for HIV.
There are also further "second generation" actors and actresses who had contact with actors that James had contact with. One of these is Randi Wright, an 18 year-old, who started appearing in adult films just so she could pay college tuition.
Roxx on learning about James being HIV-positive, "It totally made me realize how I trusted this system that wasn't to be trusted at all, because it obviously doesn't work," and "I thought porn people were the cleanest people in the world."
This outbreak, the first in four years, led to a voluntary moratorium on porn production for 60 days, starting in April of 2004, while it confirmed all possible contacts among erotic actors and actresses. No adult video production companies are required to comply.
This also led to the possible regulation of the industry by the government. Most porn industry insiders oppose this regulation, feeling it could seriously jeopardize their business. Some regulations could force the industry underground, which would only expose actors to increased risk. Since this is the first outbreak in four years, many industry insiders feel that the current regulations monitored by the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation are sufficient. Some feel that some further voluntary regulations, such as temporarily quarantining actors who appear in adult films produced outside the US, may be sufficient to prevent further outbreaks.
Adult Video News is collecting donations to assist Roxx. Famous porn star Jenna Jameson spearheaded a fundraising campaign to help porn industry workers suffering financial hardships from both the quarantine and the production moratorium.
External links
- Let them eat HIV: Who failed Lara Roxx? (http://www.slumdance.com/blogs/brian_flemming/archives/000873.html) including numerous links to related articles
- Adult Video News: Lara Roxx Diagnosed as HIV-Positive (http://www.avn.com/index.php?Primary_Navigation=Articles&Action=View_Article&Content_ID=80660) (Warning: Graphic images and popups, not safe for work)
- Filmography (http://www.adultfilmdatabase.com/index.cfm/Action/DA/ActorID/32287/Lara_Roxx/) Warning: contains explicit pornographic content