Michael Lucas: The Polarizing Prince of Porn

Expecting adult film impresario and columnist Michael Lucas to be evasive about his opinions is an exercise in futility. "What's the point of tolerating intolerance?" asks the filmmaker, born Andrei Lvovich Treivas in Moscow 42 years ago.

An unabashed fan of America, Lucas is open about his distaste for Mother Russia: "I am from Russia. I was unfortunate enough to be born there."

The son of an engineer and professor of literature, he finished his education in Moscow, earning a law degree at age 23. "My parents wanted me to be a lawyer. I graduated from the law academy, though I wish I'd left Russia after graduating from school. I lost five years of my life."

Growing up gay and opinionated was a challenge, both for Lucas and his family, especially since the young man didn't hide in the background. "In Russia, I got in a lot of trouble [during his days as a student activist]. My parents got in a lot of trouble because of my big mouth."

"I was struggling very much. There was no education about sexuality or homosexuality," he explains. "You don't know who you are. You think something is wrong with you. Then at some point you learn that this is actually a perversion and is criminalized."

"You could get jailed for homosexual acts for three to five years, but you usually wouldn't get out of Russian jail [alive]," Lucas says. "My mother told me."

Porn to Power

Approaching his 20th year as an adult film star and producer, Lucas attributes his success to a number of factors, including good business sense, a strong work ethic and a drug-free lifestyle.

Getting into the business was an easy decision. Without a work permit and speaking little German, the adult film industry was one of the few jobs open to Lucas when he arrived in Munich in the 1990s."I got into porn as soon as I arrived in Europe in 1995. My first movie was a straight movie," he says. "When you're illegal, until the day you have papers, you can't work. And I didn't speak German," he says.

"I'm still acting in my films. I've never regretted it."

Though he continued appearing on camera, after moving to New York in 1997, Lucas quickly progressed to directing and producing, forming Lucas Entertainment in 1998.

"Lots of companies weren't paying attention to budgets and went bankrupt," he says. ""I don't know anyone else who successfully made the transition." Why? "I'm smart," he answers. "A law degree definitely helped. But I was always business savvy. I know it doesn't sound modest."

He attributes much of his success to a strong work ethic. "Hard work is a big part of it. It's not only that you're smart. I think I have the gift of surrounding myself with the right team," he says. "I was always looking at how the creative side and the business side would work together. I'm good at both."

Celebrity, business success and his gift for self-promotion have opened a lot of doors. "It [porn] has given me the platform to talk about anything. Once you become known in certain communities. I have a platform ... If I was just a lawyer, I would be unknown. Nobody would care. From this platform, I can discuss issues I'm passionate about."

"When I left Russia, I really wanted to speak. I'm not intimidated by anyone," Lucas says. As an outspoken gay Jewish man, AIDS activism was followed by a greater interest in politics and then a focus on Israel and its place in the Mideast.

He's also been unfiltered in sharing his opinions of the predominantly Muslim countries bordering Israel. "My belief is that Islam is not a religion of peace. I made up my mind and speak about it a lot."

Returning to Russia for "Campaign of Hate"

The producer/director has used his resources to shine a light on the difficult social and political situation for the LGBT community in Russia through his 2014 documentary, "Campaign of Hate." Available on iTunes and Amazon, the 80-minute piece features a lengthy interview between Lucas and Vitaly Milonov, the St. Petersburg legislative assembly member who introduced the controversial anti-gay legislation. How did he land the interview? "I lied to make it happen. The American dollar goes a long way."

"I asked Milonov if it was better for a child to be adopted by a gay family or be left in an orphanage, where the child will either die or become a criminal. He didn't want to respond, but eventually he told me, 'Yes, it's better to leave them in the orphanage.'"

In addition to interviews with LGBT community members (most of whom have experienced beatings and other hate crimes), "Campaign of Hate" includes on-the-street Q&As with people of all ages who share insights, like "Why would two men adopt a child? For their 'erotic,' I suppose."

Lucas believes LGBT life in Russia will get worse before it improves. "I know the Russian government. It always follows through on its promise. The government will focus its attention on the Jews, on gays, on Ukraine to detract from other problems," he says, commenting, "Russia was never a good place. I know Russian history very well. It was never a good place for anybody."

Lucas on Barebacking and PrEP

Lucas Films certainly isn't alone in his stance on barebacking. Sean Cody, Corbin Fisher and other adult sites have introduced barebacking films over the past 18 months (usually preceded by a lengthy disclaimer), but Lucas has drawn his share of criticism, perhaps in part due to backlash based on his outspoken stance on safe sex through the years.

HIV negative and in a relationship with a positive partner, Lucas is a major advocate of PrEP (which is marketed in America as Truvada) prevention for HIV transmission, believing that - if taken correctly - it's an almost 100 percent effective form of prevention.

"For me, it's about science, and I know my stuff. The CDC has changed their language. For years, sex without condoms was considered unsafe," he says. "It's no longer unsafe. There are other ways to protect yourself. PrEP is one of them."

"I believe the studies."

He adds that sexually active men on HIV medications with undetectable viral loads are much safer sex partners than those who erroneously assume they're negative. "It's tough for people with HIV," Lucas says. "Other people ask each other, 'Are you negative?' They say, 'no' and then they fuck. That's how you get it."

Lucas has been particularly vocal in denouncing the opinions of the equally outspoken Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, who has spoken against PrEP. "Maybe he [Weinstein] doesn't want to lose his job. He'll be on the wrong side of history."

He adds, "We have 50,000 cases of HIV every year. And the rate is going up. There are more HIV-positive people in the world every day. The whole condom policy doesn't work. People don't use them because people are people. They just don't. I don't know one gay person who has never slipped."

"If everyone would be on PrEP," he says, "we would solve this problem."

Israel's Role in Lucas' Work, Political Reputation

Documentaries, speaking out and supporting charities are empowering, but adult entertainment backs a comfortable lifestyle, and Lucas is proud of his work, which includes the big budget "Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita" (2007), "Michael Lucas' Dangerous Liaisons" (2005) and, his favorite, the commercially successful and groundbreaking "Men of Israel" (2009), filmed on location in Israel with all-Israeli models. It's also the first adult film with an all-Jewish cast.

"No one had filmed in Israel before, and this title sold more than any title worldwide," Lucas says. "We had amazing locations, including isolated caves and the ruins of old cities. Israel was so welcoming. It was a most perfect time."

Israel also plays a major role in Lucas' reputation as a political lightning rod. "The world has bigger problems than the Israeli conflicts," he says. However, he believes too many anti-Semitic people focus all of their attention on Israel. "It's smaller than other world conflicts. Israel is being criticized unproportionally [sic]. The Israelis are not the biggest violators in the world."

"We have Syria. We have Iran. We have Saudi Arabia, where gay people are being hanged," he says. "When someone is actively speaking against Israel, I can't imagine any other reason than anti-Semitism."

Accusations of anti-Semitism also came into play when Lucas spoke out against the New York LGBT Center's decision in 2011 to host an Israel Apartheid Week (IAW) event, which the center eventually cancelled.

"The Gay Center is for gay causes ... This group [the IAW] has an agenda of boycotting Israel. This [the center] is not the place for that. Do it any other place. I just said it was the wrong venue," Lucas says.

Coddling Coulter?

Called "Gay porn's neocon kingpin" by "The New Republic," Lucas bristles a bit at the label, at least the part that pigeonholes him as a Republican. "People say I'm Republican. I'm independent, and I've never given money to a Republican candidate. My political views are issue by issue. Everything is case by case. I'm very liberal socially. I also never belong to any party."

He adds, "I gave money to Hillary's campaign. I give to gay charities."

Lucas drew attention for writings that defended confrontational pundit Ann Coulter and for bantering with Coulter at 2010's GOProud Convention. "People were like, 'Oh my God, you were in the same room as Ann Coulter'... You have to hear other opinions. It was a big deal that a conservative icon was coming to meet with a gay organization," he says. "She [Coulter] says, 'I love gay people. I disagree on gay marriage with them.' You can be in the same room with her and argue with her."

Lucas preaches a big-tent philosophy. "If we [gay people] want more rights, we gotta make friends with those who disagree with us," he says. "If you simply call other people Nazis, then you won't get anywhere. It's a stupid game."

Too Busy to Write it All Down

A fan of travel for business and pleasure, Lucas was interviewed hours before flying to Germany for a shoot. Fitting projects into his busy schedule is a challenge and, though he continues to write shorter pieces for The Advocate, The Huffington Post and other publications, one task he won't be taking on soon is an autobiography.

"I hear it all the time - that I should write my memoirs. I don't have time for it."