Retired porn star Nick East spent the greater portion of a decade in front of the screens in a variety of adult feature and gonzo titles. Some of his best work can be seen in the feature titles Naked Reunion, Asian Chow Down, Bad Girls, Jailhouse Nurses, Companion and Hawaii.
Since retiring from the adult industry, the AVN Hall of Famer has written a book about his life titled The Orion Compass. The 200-page book is described as an "amazing and somewhat twisted spiritual memoir, [where] you will be treated to the early life and times of Michael Scott Turner, better known to the world as Nick East."
Recently, Nick has become a vocal supporter of the controversial new ballot initiative (better known as the "County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act, Measure B") that has the adult industry split. The full text of Measure B can be found HERE.
I connected with Nick East to ask him about his support for the controversial legislation that could potentially change the way the adult industry works in Los Angeles County, as well as the reaction he's gotten from his industry peers in response to his support.
Here's what Nick had to say about his time in the adult industry, condoms and the "County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act, Measure B".
Papi Chulo: How long were you in the adult industry? When did you retire?
Nick East: I started in 1990. It's in my book if you want to read all about it. It was right about that time that it became hard to find male talent due to the fear of AIDS! There was NO testing in those days and people were coming down with this new disease. I had read the medical material on the matter and realized that it was MUCH easier for a woman to contract AIDS from a man than the other way around. I was young, dumb and...
View the rest of the interview AFTER THE BREAK...
PC: What led to your decision to retire from the adult business?
NE: Viagra was the first straw. Suddenly anybody could do my job! The biggest problem was that the producers were more than happy to eschew the current male talent in favor of the cheaper talent in a heartbeat! That led to a flood of hire-able male talent (mostly felons) who could pop a pill and charge much less than I ever would (hey, they were horny!) and all they needed was a TEST! Prove you don't have HIV, Gonorrhea, or Chlamydia. That was it! No test for Hepatitis A, B, or C! Skin infections such as tinea versicolor, etc. And they don't even test for herpes! No visual inspection by a physician, and people showing up on sets with open sores (like Mr. Marcus recently)! I had had enough. The performers became a flood of broke opportunists with a pill mixed with producers who wished more men could do the job so they wouldn't have to deal with the same guys over and over again.
PC: There always seems to be a great debate amongst adult industry participants and the mainstream media whether condoms should be mandatory in all adult productions. You left the adult industry as a veteran who appeared in both condomless and condom-based scenes. What is your opinion on whether condoms should or shouldn't be used in adult productions?
NE: It is a simple worker safety issue. Condoms do not deserve to be a choice. Multimillion dollar companies are ignoring existing worker safety laws by allowing their employees (yes, the Supreme Court found adult film actors are employees, not sub contractors) to be exposed to blood-borne pathogens unnecessarily. Times change though, so condoms are an eventuality whether anyone wants to address it or not.
PC: The County of Los Angeles Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act, Measure B is on the November 6, 2012 ballot in the County of Los Angeles, California. The ballot initiative has sparked a bit of controversy amongst adult industry performers. Several have publicly come out against it, and several have come out for it. What are your opinions on Measure B? Do you think this will help make the industry safer as opposed to the current testing practices?
NE: My official opinion of Measure B is that it is not the solution to the problem. Measure B is a symptom of the problem. The adult film industry is not doing enough to protect the health of it's sex workers and that is very evident. Unfortunately, the adult film industry have blatantly ignored CAL/OSHA's attempts to bring them into line with current laws which has resulted in this current legislation. And yet, the industry stands vehemently against any intrusion of their ability to make money.
My personal opinion on Measure B is... Finally someone cares about us! Dogs in mainstream films get treated ten times better than adult film actors and the skanky situations we find ourselves in merit worker safety law considerations.
PC: Why did you decide to become a vocal supporter of Measure B?
NE: Because OUTSIDERS such as Diane Duke and Michael Whiteacre decided to broadcast to the world that this was an issue about a performers "right" to demonstrate his/her "art" to the world without restriction! The truth of the matter is that it is a smokescreen for the real issue which is...
Should a multimillion dollar company be allowed to expose their employees to certain disease as a matter of employment for the sake of profit? Do I have to answer that question?
PC: It appears as if performers currently working in the adult industry (and retired performers) that have come out for Measure B are getting vilified from those against it. Why do you think there has been such vitriol spewed at porn performers supporting Measure B?
NE: I think it's just another example of how little respect the performers actually receive. Which makes me even more perplexed as to why ANY performers would support a companies right to infect their workers with STDs for profits sake!
PC: Some of the criticism you've received is that since you are a retired porn performer, your opinions are technically null and void because you won't necessarily have to live with the ramifications of a "Yes" on Measure B result. What is your response to that criticism?
NE: My response is simple. Who says I won't perform again? I don't! Does anyone DESERVE a STD as a matter of employment? Again, I DON'T.
PC: Performers Jessica Drake and James Deen created a video that has gone viral showing what porn could look like if Measure B is passed. In the video, they are seen wearing gloves, goggles, face shields, dental dams and hazmat suits. What's there to stop porn as we know it into turning into that? Or does Measure B not accurately state that that sort of protection would be needed from adult industry productions?
NE: I remember when conspiracy theorists were laughed at at best! Now they are trying to scare you into thinking things which simply are not true! I wish I was never a performer when I see the mainstay throw scary scenarios at us! I agree that the law, as written, does refer to operating room safety requirements, but I am also completely aware that if the law passes it will be amended accordingly so that a post apocalyptic rubber porn world doesn't become the result.
PC: Having been in the industry for enough years to be deemed a porn veteran, what is your opinion on the current modes of testing/detection of STIs and HIV/AIDS in the adult industry? Did you find fault with their health practices when you were an active performer?
NE: I never believed the industry did enough to test the performers! I asked Sharon Mitchell why there wasn't a test for herpes (which I still somehow don't have) and she told me that it would split the industry into two factions (yup, that's the answer). Those that had it would only be able to work with others that had it and so forth. Also, how to separate the two factions without causing privacy concerns?
PC: Members of the porn industry have threatened to leave California if the measure passes. Do you believe that could actually happen? Would the US porn capital have to find another city to thrive in?
NE: Where are they going to go? Doesn't Flynt have a big building with his name on it? Even Vivid has a building overlooking the 101 freeway with their name on it! All of the employees live here. The owners, etc.
PC: How can readers and fans get for more information on you?
NE: The Orion Compass would be a great place to start for anyone wanting to know more about me. I released it as a Kindle a week ago! It's second edition, and much better than the original since it's fleshed out and includes a lot of information which isn't in the original book! I actually added twenty pages too it in total!
I am at heart a performer and am on the side of the sex workers out there, one and all! Even if they don't think so.
~Papi Chulo~
This guy is one of the biggest piece of shit losers that has ever scammed his way into Adult Entertainment. He is an angry, bitter racist, who has nothing good to offer the human race. Forget this punk, plenty of actual men to watch in porn to watch anything this creepy little freak has done.
Posted by: Tom | February 10, 2017 at 05:29 AM
that's a bit harsh, he's done some good work, done some nice chicks, why are you so hatin' on the man?
Posted by: Wigga | October 29, 2017 at 12:59 PM