Chicago Health Department Issues CocoDorm Report
The Chicago Department of Public Health has released a comprehensive report on the latest rate of syphilis and HIV infections in that city in its Winter 2006 report (a PDF of the full report can be downloaded here).
Their findings include a detailed follow-up to an investigation they conducted, first reported here, into the unsafe sexual practices conducted by FlavaWorks, operators of the Internet website CocoDorm.com, where young gay Black and Latin men engage in sexual acts for the enjoyment of viewers who pay a membership fee to watch.
From the CDPH report:
In Autumn 2005, community health providers reported the first suspected cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among residents of a North Side apartment building to the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). Over the next several months, additional cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV were identified among employees and residents of the Northside dormitory. Follow-up inquiry by CDPH investigators led to the identification of a large cluster of syphilis and HIV infections associated with an Internet pornography operation. The Internet-associated business employed young African-American and Latino men as “models”. Models were paid to have sex in the dormitory in exchange for money, room, and board. Sex acts were recorded and broadcast online for paid subscribers of the website to view. The website offered free previews and members’ only services including access to photos albums, live webcams, live video chat, streaming video, stories, and weblog diaries; in addition to offering the sale of popular magazines, calendars, and DVDs. Furthermore, several models were reported to have engaged in male escort services for other men, separate from their employment through the Internet business.The purposes of the investigation were to determine the extent of the outbreak, and to identify public health interventions to limit further disease transmission in the community. Data were obtained from a review of reported syphilis and HIV case records, patient interviews and medical charts. Cases, contacts, and associates were linked to identify the sexual network. A case was defined as syphilis or HIV infection occurring in a person involved in the sexual network. A contact was defined as a person who was exposed to another person infected with syphilis or HIV. An associate was defined as a person within the social circle named by a case-patient during a confidential interview, but who is not a sexual partner of the case-patient. Results of the investigation revealed a dense sexual network of 47 persons and documented syphilis and HIV infections associated with the Internet pornography business. Exposure histories and incubation periods were consistent with transmission of syphilis and HIV within the sexual network. Of the 19 individuals who were identified as employees of the business, the median age was 23 years (age range 19-35) and all were African-American males. Of the 19 men involved with the business, nine (47%) were infected with HIV, and nine (47%) were with syphilis. Six (32%) men were co-infected with syphilis and HIV. In total, 10 cases of syphilis and 13 cases of HIV infection were indentified in this large sexual network.
The Chicago Department of Public Health is mandated to respond to community reports of disease transmission, and to prevent and control disease in the community. Continued reports of cases associated with the Internet site and the North side apartment prompted CDPH officials to contact the business owner. The business owner did not return phone calls, despite multiple attempts made by CDPH officials. Next, CDPH officials issued an order for the business owner to develop a corrective action plan due to high rates of disease associated with the business practice. Despite the order, the business owner did not attend the scheduled meeting. Failure to respond to the order to develop a corrective action plan prompted an inspection of the business practice by city officials to assess compliance with health, safety, business and licensing codes. The on-site inspection was met with resistance by a representative of the business owner, and city officials were dismissed from the premises. Cease and desist orders were immediately issued from the Department of Business Affairs for licensing violations, and from CDPH until the business practices no longer posed a threat to the health and safety of its workforce and to the general public. CDPH officials arranged for a special clinic for all employees of the business and other persons exposed to infection to offer voluntary STD and HIV testing, medical evaluation, and prophylactic treatment for possible infection. Despite this, the employees of the dormitory did not attend the special clinic. The business owner disbanded the dormitory on the next day after the inspection; the owner and models were seen moving out of building, and the website was temporarily shut down. As of May 2006, the business was reported to have relocated to another state. CDPH officials contacted the health departments in other jurisdiction to inform them of the identified cluster of syphilis and HIV infections.
News coverage of the syphilis and HIV cluster investigation and public health actions was extensive in gay community press with concern expressed for the employees, allegations of exploitation, and the nature of the work. Collaboration between the health department and community agencies led to the identification of an outbreak of sexually transmitted diseases, and the prevention of further transmission of syphilis, HIV, and other STDs in the community.
Flavaworks also operates the porn sites, Cocoboyz, Thugboy and PapiCock, and the magazines Flavamen and FlavaLife. As a result of the CDPH investigation last year, Flavaworks closed their operation in Chicago and relocated to Miami, Florida. The business’s owner, Phillip Bleicher, has also been charged by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan with operating a fraudulent charity that bilked schools nationwide out of millions of dollars.
Previous articles:
Links contained in old articles may no longer work.
Porn, HIV and the Lives of Young Gay Men of Color LINK
CocoDorm Responds LINK
More Problems at the CocoDorm LINK
Hot, Safe Sex LINK
Posted by bernie at May 7, 2007 8:20 AMTragic on so many levels. It's clear that Bleicher was sexually and financially exploiting these young brothas (median age of 23) for his profit, and their lives and health were being destroyed. I also don't doubt that the sexual "network" extended beyond the people living in this "dorm." It's good that the CDPH conducted its investigation and is making it public, but now Bleicher has fled, and it's clear that their and related safer-sex and STD/HIV prevention programs weren't reaching these brothas at all. Isn't there a better way to reach folks like this, who are at great risk?
Posted by: jstheater at May 7, 2007 12:15 PMchile...
Posted by: larryly at May 7, 2007 12:30 PMIt seems CocoDorm is having new problems in Miami. Check out the news link.
http://www.nbc6.net/news/13283491/detail.html?dl=mainclick
Posted by: Omar Miguel at May 9, 2007 9:20 AMhttp://brooklynboyblues.blogspot.com/2007/05/frank-roberts-statement-on-flavaworks.html
Posted by: Frank Leon Roberts at May 10, 2007 8:12 PM The alleged incident's that surrounded the Chicago Dorm were both sad and unfortunate, however I believe those matters have been address with that company and it's management. The dorm that I've personally lived in was in no way the picture that these slanderous reporters/competitors/and or Ex-model's or trying to paint . Along side of having to present Std result we were consistently reminded of safe sex practices and how they go hand and hand with the company /provided with safe sex educational brochures/ and even prohibited from engaging in any "High Risk Activity "(sexual contact) with people outside the dorm.
I would like to address the issue of Coco dorm exploiting young Black and Latin men. In adult entertainment there is bond to be exploitation that is what adult entertainer's are paid to do, willingly and legally sexually exploit their self's for the entertainment of others. To say me and my co-workers are in anyway being exploited is bogus and untrue we are compensated accordingly and aware of what we are doing. In my opinion the ones that are doing the exploiting are people saying Coco dorm does not always practice safe sex which is also bogus and untrue, giving people who are wrongfully misled the impression we are all infected and to top it off going back into our precious community's and infecting others….. HOW DARE YOU.
The whole incident is a soggy attempt bye competitors to slander Coco dorm and it's models for their personal gain. People will do anything to see you fall. But it wont work………..
Posted by: Justin at May 11, 2007 3:31 AM