Ty Lattimore Speaks?

Surprise.  A little controversy is stirring on this blog.

Recently, I have been writing about the stupidity of having bareback sex with people you don't know. I discussed the lack of responsibility that black pornographers (like Ty Lattimore) display when they produce bareback sex videos in 2006, when the rate of HIV is disproportionately affecting African-Americans.

I received the following letter from black pornstar Ty Lattimore:

To Whom it May Concern:

I recently was forwarded an email about me and my production company and the fact that I recently produced a bareback video. I do not know who Bernard Shaw [sic] is, nor do I really care.  While controversy is not anything new to me nor typically spend time worrying about, I felt I would respond. I am very aware of the Hiv Rate of Black men. I was also aware that soume folks might be critical. My position is that consenting adults have the right to make any choice they choose. I find it hypocritical how many people chose to act like barebacking does not exist.

At no point do I recommend any sexual choices for anyone. I provide entertainment. My models and I made very conscious choices. Its also funny how many folks watch straight videos particulary because no condom is used. There are many other companies that only produce bareback films. My company produces some bareback and some with condoms.

But as with anything I produce whether its sex parties, video or etc....if its not for you then thats cool. Hit Delete. Just as some folks oppose bareback, there are folks who think all porn should be outlawed, or that sex parties are wrong. I always will believe that folks have a right to make their own choice. Just as you have the choice to not buy these things. Nobody is ever going to push their beliefs on me. A lot of men bareback, some occasionally, and other just want to see someone else do it. Either way, I produce what I want and what I think my audience wants to see.

Judging by the response, folks seem to like the movie.  But better yet, you keep right on talking about it.  Just make sure to include the website while you debating it!

Ty Lattimore

For real Ty?  I won't be including the website, buy an ad.  Sadly, based on his response, it seems like money was his primary motivator when making a bareback video. 

I'll make this simple.  Ty missed the entire point.  No one is arguing that consenting adults do not have the right to engage in bareback sex.  That is your right to be stupid and fuck strangers without condoms.  And I defend an individual's right to do that.  But my critique was whether its responsible for a well known, sucessful, and respected black pornographer to create videos that make dangerous sexual activity between black men look sexy and appealing? 

Personally, I don't think so.  I think that we have responsibilities.  It's not enough to say simply that you don't recommend any sexual choices for anyone and that you merely provide entertainment.  That's irresponsible. Do you have a right to do it?  Sure.  Is it fucked up?  Yes!

Also, Ty misses the point when he says that people are hypocritical when they choose to act like barebacking doesn't exist.  In my post on barebacking, I not only acknowledge that barebacking is a sexy, and hot form of sex--but in fact its the best.  But it is also the riskiest and most dangerous sex.  So no one is pretending like barebacking doesn't exist, but does that mean we need to go out and celebrate it without discussing the real life, real world dangers that accompany it?

In some of the comments on my site, Ty goes on to say that other porn production houses produce black bareback videos--like Flavaworks which produces Cocodorm.  I 100% agree, they do.  And they are equally irresponsible. 

However, one of the reasons why I pointed out Ty is because a reader of mine was surprised that Ty, a black man heading a porn house, would be irresponsible enough to create bareback porn.  Flavaworks is not a black owned and operated business.  That doesn't mean that they shouldn't be called out for being irresponsible, but if we can't expect our own black producers to be responsible to our communities of color--how are going to expect white producers of black gay porn to act responsibly?

Anyway, I'm exhausted.  Keep making money sensationalizing the unsafe.

Comments

[justbthat.com]

for those of you who think unprotected sex is nasty...just remember without it there would be no you...unless you are a test tube baby.

Sex in your bedroom should be your way, whether it is raw or protected. It is not the business of ANY man to impress his morals on anyone BUT his family.

When we have unprotected sex we know what we are at risk of contracting. Still we make the decision to do it anyway.

It is awwful arrogant for any person to assume that the world should like, do and live the way [s]he does.

Raw sex may be nasty to you, but you are nasty to someone because you have sex with other men (with or without a condom).

Our walks and journeys are neither meant to be compared or judged.

So please dispense with the mockery and foolish judgements...if you don't like raw sex WEAR A CONDOM. If you don't like raw porn DING DING DING...DON'T BUY IT.

[Craig]

I must admit that in our African American gay community we can be the most judgmental and hypocritical individuals. Many of us have taken the risk of having unprotected sex with someone we are not sure if they are infected with HIV. Some may be in a relationship and say "Hey we have been togther 5 years, there is no reason to use protection", the person is no stranger to you, however the two of you may have never discussed the issue of HIV status. Would one consider that a "irresponsible" move. I understand Ty Lattimore's position to display multiple options of sexual situations. It provides a fantasy which we all are interested in. The creator of this blog fail to mention the fact that 85% of Black gay men will sleep with someone without knowing their name if they are attractive enough. Do we consider that "irresponsible"? Let's not judge other, but take a look at the community as a whole and ask ourselves why we are the only Gay community where there are a shortage of Monogamous relationship, or better yet a shortage of Long Term Relationships. Once that question is answered then we can focus on other things that make our community look bad. For example, the reason our men will lie about their health status to get into someone's bed. Just a observation from a interested mind.

[Realness]

YO UNPROTECTED SEX IS NASTY AS HELL! PERIOD! AND ITS ALSO UNCALLED FOR UNLESS U MARRIED 2 THAT PERSON..OR UNLESS U DONT MIND GETTING AN STD..STAY STRAPPED OR DIE MY PPL! SIMPLE AS DAT! NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS PLEASE!

[Derek L Stewart]

Free speech and the fact that adults have a right to do as they please does not in anyway absolve us of the responsibility to attack and contain threats to our collective health. Peddlers of unsafe sexual practices, and the owners of venues where such conduct is permitted and encouraged should be held responsible for their actions. When AIDS was raging in the white gay community, many cities shuttered bath houses and the like as a part of a larger prevention effort. This slowed the progression of the disease in this community. Ty can make any movie that he likes, but he and his kind have got to understand that this disesase is killing us and they are complicit if they contribute to a culture which puts sexuality above all else including commonsense.

[Raul]

I LOVE bareback vids. If you are concerned about the spread of HIV in our community get off your ass, go into the community & do some work to help prevent transmission. To suggest that any person with connected brain cell doesn't know how HIV is spread is an insult to Black folks. There are lots of reasons for risky behaviors and very little of it has to do with porn. If you want to object to something object to the negligent ways in which HIV & AIDS has been dealt with in the Black community. Object to the lack of support of people's sexual identity and outright homophobia which lead to self destructive behavior. Porn is the least of our problems HIV- or +

[J]

Here are pictue's of Cocodorm's owner: http://membersa.blackplanet.com/lukebaby/

[chris brown]

Local gay Internet site believed linked to the spread of HIV/STDs

At the urging of Chicago Department of Public Health officials, the City of Chicago slapped a cease-and-desist order on the Lakeview home of an online gay porn site April 20 after concerns were raised about cases of HIV and other STDs tied to the site’s models.

Christopher Brown, assistant commissioner for HIV/AIDS/STD programs at CDPH, said health officials acted after uncovering “credible” evidence that models at FlavaWorks.com, which also operated CocoBoyz Dorm Room online, were HIV-positive, were engaging in unsafe sex practices and were spreading HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea through contact with individuals outside the business.

Brown said CDPH’s initial involvement came in late December after HIV service providers called CDPH to express “concerns that some of their clients could be seen on the website engaging in unsafe sex.”

“We also became aware of cases of HIV linked to some of the models,” Brown said.

The business allowed members to go online and view models engaging in sex in a “dorm room” setting that was staged in an apartment at 933 W. Irving Park Road. The models were predominately black and Latino. Members could also pay more to have the models perform specific sex acts.

Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Licensing issued the cease-and-desist order prohibiting the business from operating at the Irving Park Road location. Brown said CDPH Comm. Terry Moore also plans to issue a cease-and-desist order.

Brown said the business owner (Phillip Bleicher and Devin Wiley of Texas) had been “less than cooperative” with city officials’ efforts to stop the spread of HIV and other diseases and get CocoBoyz models in for counseling, treatment and testing.

“Our main concern was the dorm,” Brown said. “Our goal is to immediately look at the models, screen them and address their needs.”

By the time city officials and police showed up the morning of April 20, CocoBoyz had already cleared out of the apartment. A man who identified himself as Jackson Robinson, manager of the business, said he and the owner closed it because they knew the city planned to shut it down. Robinson denied the city’s charges in a phone interview.

“There’s no one HIV-positive in our dorm, so that’s untrue,” Robinson said. “The models also engage in safe sexual practices.”

He said he felt the primary reason the city moved against the porn business was that it didn’t have the proper license. He said he’d repeatedly been turned down for a license.

Brown scoffed at Robinson’s denials.

“We had evidence and reports from what I would consider credible sources that there was HIV and STDs among the models at CocoBoyz dorm room, and unsafe sex could be viewed right there on the website,” Brown said.

Brown stopped short of saying the porn models engaged in prostitution with customers, but said, “Yes, through our conversations, there were individuals who became infected through contact with the models.”

There are also allegations that the business used unusual labor contracts with its models, which, according to one source, “at least bordered on illegal servitude.” The 30-day contracts allegedly required the models to perform a certain number of sexual acts in exchange for a stipend. But, when the models tried to collect the stipends, they were told they were being charged for such things as food and bed linens, leaving them, in some cases, in debt rather than collecting money. They were then pressured to sign new contracts.

Robinson said the business, which dates back to 1999, is looking for a new home outside Chicago and will reopen “whenever we can be licensed and incorporated somewhere else.”

http://chicagofreepress.com/news/index.html#local%20gay%20internet

[phalrap]

I don't know this guy, but he is doing a great job. Somebody must take up on the huge responsibilty of entertaining american mostly married black men. And its tearing down society leaveing people wondering whats happening. If 100 strong black men, not just males, would start a petition to put a hold or some stict censorship to this trash, we might not even need to write about it.

[Waddie Grant]

I'm not a fan of bareback sex, but I am on Ty's side just because he mentioned that people have their choices and apparently the act is consensual just I like I would tell a guy to wear a condom. Straight pornos and sex parties have bareback sex too...I don't condone bareback sex, but I don't condemn it...who are we to judge when many of us have done some sexual acts that may be deemed as immoral like group sex and sex parties.

[nathans]

How disappointing....he ain't even that cute but hey !

'Monkey see monkey do' actually does have some validity. Not eveyrone hasthe intellectual capacity to understand and toi strictly follow HIV prevention guidelines and in my opinion.

I think it is irresponsible for a balck film producer to make bareback films without even a warning to the viewers that bareback sex is dangerous given the increasing rate of HIV infection in his target population. The fact that others do it does not make it right.
Lattimore has a position of responsibility and influence whether he wants it or not and clearly he doesn't want it.

But what do we expect from a porn producer .....?

[ya boi]

Raw doggin is natural. The God you believe in did not tell Adam and Eve to wear condoms. We like to see raw sex and participate in it. People should not allow thier government's attempt at population control and drug company's greed affect thier sex life. Hiv is more of a "receiver" type of disease...meaning people who take nut in the ass or pussy are strong candidates to be infected. Tops or straight men who only use thier dicks are more prone to get HIV through a woman's vaginal fluids as opposed to the anal wall since the anus does not have any secretions. If some bold person would come out with a law suit which would separate church from state regarding cloning, all worries would be over. I asked a doctor why not just clone the T-cells, grow about a million of them and inject them back into the body? THis could be done indefinetly as well as growing new organs. He responded and stutterred: We don't know which cells are infected. My response to his statement is, :It does not matter." If infected T-cells or non-infected T-cells are cloned, they still can fight off infections. I'm sure a positive person would not mind having a million infected cells as opposed to none at all. If people would conduct research into natural cures instead of complaining about raw sex, they will see there are simple remedies for a lot of illnesses including cancer. It so sad how the lay public only skims the surface and only believe everything they are told in the news instead of realizing they have the power to take action. If there was a true separation of church and state, all lives can be extended and people would be much happier. Stop making laws that take away freedom. Start to demand cloning from your health care and government officials. Thats the least they can do since they created the disease.

[Tae]

You all need to find Jesus.

[sunny]

Well, I dont think its Ty's or anyone elses responsibility to teach me about safe sex. (anyone grown enough to purchase these tapes should be grown enough to know...)

But what I found most shocking about Ty's responses is that he doesn't mention PRE-SCREENING FOR HIV for models in his bareback videos.

And since he doesnt explicitly say that... it makes me wonder if they even are. Because up until this point, I just assumed that participants in any bareback scenes, gay or str8, were tested prior to. I mean, they would have to be suicidal not to.

As exemplified in your sex party post, people who are in those films are more likely to practice risky behavior (bareback sex without pre-screening) so to particpate in a film bareback with them is like a deathwish.

If they are all prescreened before the shoot, the chance of spreading HIV is greatly diminished. And if Ty puts up a statement saying that all of his 'models' are pre-screened for HIV before the making of this film for 5 seconds at the start of the film, he both encourages viewers to be safe in their choices AND allows them to indulge in their bareback fantasy.

No, its not his responsibility... but it seems like a simple thing to do.

That just seems so simple to me. Am I really that brilliant or is Ty really that dumb?

[Paval Lord]

I truly understand both standpoints. However, we can only hope that people committ to reason and responsibility, but I feel that it is too late for us to invoke responsibility and accountability when it comes to sex, especially when we live in a culture that is no longer on that track. From the White House to the individual no one cares about anyone else. The only thing that drives us is money. But, I have always protested that we cannot judge the decision of someone else. I watch porn and these people make a personal decision to do the things they do. The consequences is what those individuals have to live with. In a perfect world, there would be no porno's, but as such we do not, porno's thrive and so does terminal illnesses that can be prevented.

[KeithR]

Good work Bernard. I must agree with your position on this controversial topic but I'm not surprised that many people disagree. Wisdom is rarely popular.

Unfortunately, there are in fact lots of people in the world that are not very wise and they really do copy what they see others do just to fit in despite the fact that these behaviors may be maladaptive or even deadly.

And for them (not you wise folks obviously) bareback films could pose a dangerous influence. When TY has to face his Maker and he is asked to account for the ignorant and uneducated people who got HIV, suffered and died because they copied the acts in his bareback films he won't have as easy a time explaining his actions to his Maker as he did to us here on this blog.

If you care about the lives of others who may have less wisdom and education than you, then you may also have reason to object to the making of bareback movies today.

[Mr. C]

I debated for a little while before I decided to go ahead and way in on this debate. While I understand what the author of the blog and his supporters are trying to argue, I must respectfully disagree. Ultimately, I think this topic is a problem that is becoming very big in our society. Everyone wants to blame someone else for our problems and no one wants to take responsiblity for themselves. It's happening with music, movies, everything. When I was a child, my parents let me and my brother occassionally listen to gangsta rap music and Rated R movies. While we were probably to young for it, they made sure we understood that just because that's what THEY are doing doesn't mean that's what YOU'RE suppose to do. What is my point? Whether you agree with Ty's style or not, ultimately you are responsible for you. And I know I may offend some with this statement, but if you are not adult enough and mature enough to make your own decisions without being influenced by a fantasy, maybe it's time to leave the pornography alone.

[SoulnLocs]

Brothers, just where are we going with this?

To the brothers who may feel it is not Ty's nor anyother director/producer to educate-let's be real, its up to all of us. YOU, YOU, YOU, ME, and YOU.

The mention of this film was in no ways (how I precieved it) in attacking the person, but the act. We've all used some form of an example to argue our view, but whose gonna argue for the common ideal and practice of debate? If we can't discuss or agree to disagree about this issue, than we're in terrible shape. Brother Bernard, it will be lonely at the top. Brother Ty and all participants of these films, just be careful. You all have your reasons on why a film of this magnitude is important to you and with much respect I offer. Just ovastand the consciousness and power you hold through film.

Brothers we have work to do and to be honest I would love to get some help in visiting some of our brothers in these hospitals with no one to love them. Can we discuss healthcare, family values, and the importance of education at any cost?

Please accept that what I've shared is just to show that there was life and will be life after these videos, but do trust lives will be affected and effected because of them. May not be yours, nor mines, but one of our brothers. Let's not do this in mixed company.

Hotep~

[Procrastination_xtravaganza]

Dell, intellect and logistical prowess aside, Friday The 13 homicides present little to no tangible gain to the average person.

Smiling, happy, sexually attractive smokers in billboards present that image and are influential. Joyous good looking fit guys holding a bottle of XYZ liquor surrounded by hot females in print ads present gain in those areas and are influential. Attractive, well bodied, more sexually aroused and satisfied men engaging in raw intercourse is presented in both visual and written format as appealing, that's what tends to make something influential, not just the mere fact that it occurs, a la Jason's killings in FT13. The lack of nerve required and consequence of the action play a part as well. It's a lot harder to physically murder someone, and then to get away from the law afterwards, than it is to not put on a condom and slide in someone.

Again, I ask that you not take the extremist view. I'm not saying that watching a cliff jumping documentary on Discovery Channel will make people jump out their office window. That you seem to think what you see on TV, in print ads, and apparently what you put in your DVD player have no influence on you whatsoever is pretty disillusioned.

[Dell]

In reply to Procrastination_xtravaganza, so if what you say is true, then, if you watch something like Friday the 13th. The seed of being a mass murderer will be planted in your mind, and sooner or later you will act on it?. But then again I'm sure your intellect and logistical prowess, far outshines any of us average gays.

[Procrastination_xtravaganza]

See, I knew this was gon be some shyt. Few things start up heated discussion more than religion, politics, or warm nutt drippin' out an asshole.

I'll try to keep it concise, the juxtaposition of several of these posts convey every tint and angle of my opinion on this topic.

Do I like raw porn? Yes. Do I think the filmmakers have a moral obligation to their audience? Not unless they profess to. Do I think raw porn contributes in some way to unsafe practice in today's society? Absolutely.

The one thing I've noticed here, in several of the "Go Ty!" posts is that, they actually give the average gay male way too much intellectual credit and logistical prowess, and way too little humanity. I'm not calling gay males stupid, or sub par with respect to the rest of society, just, human.

Fact is, the average gay male is - human. Obvious, but bear with me. Humans are influenced by their environment. Those denying that are living in a fantasy world much like the porn they are defending creates. I won't go as far as to say watching a raw porn makes you rip off the condom and bareback all weekend, but it does plant the idea in your mind.

Do these same people who think that raw porn has absolutely no influence on popular behavior think that the mass cigarette and liquor campaigns in low income mostly minority neighborhoods have the same nil effect on the people living there? Or maybe they only influence the stupid ones to smoke & drink? Take a less extreme look at influence. External stimuli will not have an effect on everyone, however, it also doesnt affect noone (hope yall stayed with me on the double negative).
Some people will be influenced, and repeated exposure only increases this effect.

That said, I agree with the sentiment that Ty, nor any porn producer/distributor should be chided for pumping out raw porn. This is based solely on the knowledge that - Ty has never claimed to care if you live or die, just that he wants to put a smile on your face and a dollar in his hand. In that he succeeds.

In light of this, those who think we should "focus on the causes of why people are having unsafe sex, and find solutions for them, not attack an industry that just provides entertainment," need to come to grips with the fact that the products of the industry they protect, are indisputably part of the reason folk are hittin the skins raw.

[Dell]

Finally, I glad there are some sensible people commenting on this. The people promoting the view that BB films are somehow contributing to the rise of AIDS and HIV. Every GAy, BI, Straight person of normal intelligence should be insulted. What kind of idiot do you think I am, that just because I see two or more people having unsafe sex in a video, that I am going to go out and do the same? Monkey seee, Monkey do, right? Give me credit for having just a little bit of intelligence. For the ones who would be influenced by these videos, unsafe sex is probably the least of their problems. People who make the choice to practice unsafe sex and spread HIV and AIDS make a conscience choice to do so. In today's society I really don't think there are too many people over the age of 12 that don't know what causes HIV and AIDS. We need to focus on the causes of why people are having unsafe sex, and find solutions for them, not attack an industry that just provides entertainment.

[Adam]

Now, if a video game can't influence me to kill someone why on Earth would a porno movie influence me to kill myself?

I understand responsibility, etc. Yes, I get that. But take an honest look and yes, its the same side of the irresponsibility script that the PMRC, Focus on the Family and the Republican Party has been on for years. Welcome to the red side, Bernard.

Essentially if you boil the arguement down to its most basic elements, it makes barebacking look appealing like "Grand Theft Auto" looks appealing. And while people need to be educated, and have self-love and knowledge, it's wrong to place the blame for supporting an entire culture on a dude who essentially gets busy on a tape.

Safe sex is a knowledge handed down to use for almost 15 years now. And it's time people stopped needing examples of being responsible coming from a form of entertainment to figure out how to do it in real life.

And what's very weird is we're expecting an industry to police itself and its audience is inheriently adult. If you got access to porn you have access alot of things good and bad. And at that point it should be up to them to make those decisions and us to stop feeling like everyone needs to influence them.

Still love the site.

- Adam

[K.]

I'm glad that these issues are even being seriously discussed. If only more black gay/sgl/bi/"dl"/i-don't-want-to-be-labelled" men would be willing to discuss HIV, HIV status, and what degree of risk is acceptable in their own interactions with their partners! I know Ty socially, and I am HIV+ , and though I am surprised that he is now making videos that include barebacking, I recognize that he is a BUSINESSMAN. He has never apologized for his choice of profession, he has always been honest about the fact that he is about entertaining his audience and making money. He is not a health advocate or activist. He provides a service to (presumably) intelligent adults.
Personally, I am most disappointed that members of our community might feel the need to look to entertainers of whatever sort as "role models" or examples to follow. Whatare those of us who consider ourselves "aware" and "conscious" doing to reach out to our brothers with respect and love to encourage them tomakehealthy choices in all areas of life?

[digital dove]

Its interesting how this is an issue that has come to light since it has been a practice that has been going on for decades now. The fact that in the current world we live in where HIV and AIDS are no longer seen really as being the big killers with the little names. Personally I have engaged in bareback sex in a relationship of 5 years and it was our personal choice that we made together and not based on any activity that we witnessed from porn. Now granted this is a practice that is unsafe and I will not encourage anyone to try it. But I think you missed the point with your reply to Ty's remarks. For one I did read the posting and for one it comes off as a personal attack towards him since for one you really didn't mention any of the other porn producers that produce bareback films that are black or latino for that matter. Ty is a personal friend of mine that I have known for awhile and he is an affluent businessman and knows the consequences of any business actions he makes (ie. making bareback films). However, he is not promoting nor endorsing the practice and yea perhaps there should be a disclamier stating the fact of the dangers of said practice. But then again there has been a warning label on cigarettes, so the question really is "Would anyone really pay attention or jump right into the action?"

[shawn legend]

Bernard i am really upset about your commemnts about that movie ! ty is a very sweet person and does nothing for money ! he has enough money! He makes movies because he likes it and he is good at it! I am on the cover of the movie And in the scene with ty! Ty did not force us or make us in fact he asked us four or five times if we were comfortable with doing! we choose to do it bare.
I you shouldnt just single him out! there are enough companies that do barebacks . Did you forget about them? Anyway save some of your thoughts for parts two and three!