A Month After Testing HIV-Positive, Derrick Burts Shot A Gay Porn Scene

The scene Burts shot, as “Derek Chambers” for RealGuysExposed.com, was a solo jerk-off, filmed on November 14th (Burts learned of his status on October 9th). Site founder and scene director Robert Chander wrote the following to TheSword:

I really like Derrick/Derek. I’ve shot him three times for RealGuysExposed.com. The last time was on November 14 after he texted me and told me that he needed the money and asked if I would do a shoot with him. I knew he was the guy then being called Patient Zero. But he’d always been a sweet guy and a great model. We had a successful shoot and he was very upbeat, really sexy.

I didn’t know Derrick was so torn up. I knew he was going through some tough stuff, and I thought doing the shoot with him would help. He said it would. And he seemed very enthusiastic doing the shoot and said he had a good time. I had no idea he felt so betrayed by the industry or that he was planning to go public. In fact, I was editing the shoot with Derrick for RealGuysExposed.com and had just sent him an email about what a pleasure it was to work with him when I saw the story on the Los Angeles Times blog Tuesday night. I never heard back from him, but I did see him on the news coverage of his press conference on Wednesday.

I wrestled with the decision whether or not to post the clip. In the end, I figured that he was a sexy guy who wanted to do a shoot and the video came out great. It wouldn’t do Derrick any favors by burying the shoot. He may have been positive when he did the shoot, but it was solo. And why can’t a positive model be sexy? Mason Wyler is one of the sexiest guys working in porn and he’s open about his HIV status. I went ahead and posted the Derek Chambers video as scheduled.

I hope Derrick is getting the care he needs. He’s a good guy and I’m sure this is all very confusing for him. My heart goes out to him.

Robert Chandler is a lot more generous than I am.

So is Conner Habib:

I don’t feel comfortable with the contradictory stories that Derrick has given to the public. But I remember him being sweet and happy months ago, and I can only imagine the frustration and fear this sort of media attention has created in him.

Well, media attention that he–with the help of AHF–actively pursued.

How often have we ourselves made the errors that he’s made in our personal lives? How often have we mistaken what we want to be true for what is true? He may have done the wrong thing by confusing his statements and casting blame in the wrong places. But do I have to do the same thing to feel okay about the situation? Or can I break out of the pattern and create something new? Or can I break out of the pattern and create something new?

The “errors” he’s referring to are Burts’ conflicting stories about how he thought he got HIV (first he indicated it might have been oral sex on a gay porn shoot; later he said semen shot on his back may have dripped into his anus) and how he told the LA Times that he never had off-camera sex with anyone except his girlfriend, when he in fact advertised himself as a gay escort on Rentboy (which he later admitted to doing, but claimed he was never “hired”). Conner makes other measured, reasonable points; read his entire post.

But how much are you willing to justify when the results of someone’s “errors” lead to more detrimental misconceptions about not just gay porn, but gay sex and gay people in general, from both mainstream and far right news outlets? Why should someone with so many credibility issues be given a pass? Raising questions about Derrick Burts’ message and the people who are helping him deliver it is perfectly fine, and I hope it continues. Not that it matters, of course. The media already have their narrative: Porn= evil and corruptive; young man with HIV= victim.

16 thoughts on “A Month After Testing HIV-Positive, Derrick Burts Shot A Gay Porn Scene”

  1. This guy seems to have been straight in his personal life, and did a bunch of straight porn too. How does anyone not know it wasn’t from a straight set, or encounter. Of course everyone just turns to blaming gays.

  2. “My hope is that we can begin to turn away from finding where somewhere else is wrong, and emphasizing these wrongs. Instead we can seek out within ourselves where we’ve made the same mistakes so we can move forward TOGETHER through understanding.”

    Am I the only one in the UNIVERSE who finds Conner Habib’s mushy, navel-gazing on this matter as utterly inane as they are self-serving and masturbatory?

    1. I’m pretty sure the whole blog entry is a thoughtful response, not “mushy.” If you’ve got specifics about what’s bothering you, I’m open to hearing them – I don’t have mushy feelings about it – I wanted to try to take the whole thing seriously. If I’m failing, tell me what’s on your mind.

      Also, I’m not sure how asking all of us to get together and be kind with one another is “masturbatory” or “self-serving” – it’s much more like an orgy. I love orgies.

  3. I just want to weigh in as someone who has worked with Derrick and as a Sword reader. I don’t think Zach is attacking anyone. He’s doing what a good journalist should do: searching for truth. This is a sad situation for Derrick. But I think Zach is trying to use this story to talk about some bigger truths about the porn industry, HIV and political agendas. We need people to ask questions when things don’t add up. I don’t think TheSword.com is mean-spirited at all. I think Zach has a problem with contradictions, agendas and misinformation. That’s his job and he seems to be doing it well.

  4. I spoke up against the grain with Mason Wyler and I will speak up again now … if this was any outside the public sphere it would be hushed or only quietly discussed behind closed doors. I don’t feel its right to attack someone when
    1. We are paying to watch performers
    2. Even with Condoms people are at risk as professionals or private citizens
    3. Your partners may lie to you at any time.

    Remember these three things before you attack another person’s character.

    1. First, no one is being “attacked.” Asking questions and pointing out inconsistencies is not an attack. Either read more carefully or reconsider your language. Furthermore, a public figure, which Derrick Burts elected to become last week, is EXACTLY the type of person who should be discussed, openly and honestly. The credibility of someone who has the audacity to make public statements that include calls to action which could ultimately affect millions of people, including you, should absolutely be questioned.

      1. I’m apologize for not being clear enough.

        I’m not saying your were attacking him. I’m saying people shouldn’t be attacked that appears to have happened to Derrick Burts and Mason Wyler by the great majority of the industry.

        Yes he put himself out there. Yes his story is inconsistent and needs to be cleared up. I agree with that, but because he decided to be honest he shouldn’t be shunned.

        I personally am not HIV positive but do have several friends who are. My mother contracted Hep B while being treated at a hospital in S. Korea. I understand how painful this can be.

        We definitely need to focus more attention on HIV/AIDS and STDs in general and how to combat them through use of condoms and teaching. Until Leaders from across the board and not just the porn industry step up the situation will continue to worsen.

        Case in Point: A local high school in my hometown of Springfield, IL asked the graduating senior class to voluntarily test for all STDs. Out of 250 students who volunteered 65 were HIV positive and another 100 had other STDs.

        This is where the battle begins.

        1. WHAT! 65 high school seniors tested positve for HIV!? How did I mis this story? Why hasn’t it been on the news every night and why aren’t they using it to get rid of Bush’s worthless abstinance education curriculum? I’m going to research this right now.

          1. Its because they’re high school students and therefore protected by law unless they choose to rescind that privilege. I just happen to have a friend whose daughter attends the school.

          2. Thank you for clearing that up. I had already discovered it wasn’t true. I know that minors names are protected. I worked as a high school guidance counselor for 6 years. I also know that if 20% of a graduating class contracting HIV it would be INTERNATIONAL news and those advocating sex education would be lobbying for more funding. You don’t have to release names to report on a story like that and there is no way it wouldn’t make the news with the right demanding morality to be taught in school and the left using it to prove you can’t ignore the fact that teenagers have sex.

          3. Unfortunately that link is about San Diego not Springfield Illinois and such things, do not have to be reported until everything is verified and a total accounting of students is made.
            I love it when people think they know what happens in small cities and haven’t a clue.
            it can take months and years to get information out of the city I live in.

  5. Thanks for this, Zach.
    I agree with you that both Derek and the media are making a mess of the situation. The point of my blog was not to in any way “justify” or give “a pass” to Derek.

    It’s important to stay critical, and his actions do deserve thoughtful criticism.

    They definitely deserve thoughtful criticism if, indeed, his actions might affect or seem to represent aspects of pornography, sexuality, sexual health, and media.

    I wrote what I did to point out that there is a difference between thoughtful criticism and the more troublesome sort of gossip that happens when someone slips up or does something wrong in our community – and that those sorts of approaches – gossiping and dismissive insulting – can have just as much of a detrimental effect as anything Derek has done – In fact, they’re a symptom of the same confusion.

    We have a chance, when these things happen, to blame the other person and walk away feeling superior, or to look at ourselves and see where we’ve committed the same or similar mistake. This does not mean to excuse, it means to understand so we can truly commit ourselves to change.

    One of the excerpts you post above is from a response I wrote to a reader. Here’s the rest of the text:

    I want to be clear – I think Derek’s response to his situation is graceless and confused – and I think you’re right to have critical thoughts about his actions.

    However, I wrote this blog in hopes of addressing a needed compliment to criticism – compassion. I don’t think we can respond appropriately – perhaps we cannot even respond truthfully – without it.

    I’m sure you’ve also felt regret and confusion after the fact and that you’ve made contradictory statements or acted our of fear in your life. That’s not a condemnation – I’m sure you’ve done so, because I have too. We all have, and we’re united in this.

    My hope is that we can begin to turn away from finding where somewhere else is wrong, and emphasizing these wrongs. Instead we can seek out within ourselves where we’ve made the same mistakes so we can move forward TOGETHER through understanding. This is the difference between needing to be seen as right and truly experiencing freedom.

    I often wonder if the world would respond to pornography in a more enlightened and accepting way if the people making pornography were all raising their heads high and had a feeling of brotherhood. We’re working towards it – and I think Derek’s case allows the opportunity to see each other with compassion and consequentially HELP each other through instead of deferring to criticism and blame. If so, we can change not only ourselves, but our role in the world.

    Thank you for your thoughtful response,
    CH

  6. The AHF has a radical political agenda and they are using this guy to lie to the media to promote that agenda when they should be doing other more important work. For that reason I would never give them a cent of my charitable $$ and feel they are a company that should have their tax exempt status revoked just like the morman church should for bankrolling Prop H8.

  7. Zack–
    Thanks for posting my comments. This has all been a confusing and sad experience. I don’t want to encourage any misinformation that Derek/Derrick is spreading. I just wanted to express my concern for him as a human being who I had felt fortunate to meet. I leave it to someone like you to point out the contradictions of the story and shine some light on the misconceptions. You are doing a great job on the coverage of this story and the larger issues around it. People need to educate themselves on how HIV is actually spread. Safe sex is important and so is education. I have my concerns about the message and agenda of AHF and the way they are using Derrik. When I shot with him on November 14, he didn’t seem to be anti-porn at all. You can see that in the videos and the photos I took.
    I feel for Derrick as a human being. He is a young man going through something horrible. He must be very confused. I would be.
    I also appreciate the good job you are doing pointing out the truths of this story and cutting through the sex-negative fear-mongering.

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