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Chi Chi LaRue is the best known, and perhaps the most prolific, gay porn director. Only a small handful of gay erotica directors have achieved "above the title" name recognition, and LaRue is one of them. Despite suffering a mild heart attack in March 2004, LaRue maintains a busy work schedule that includes hosting parties and award shows, and making personal appearances across the United States and in Europe. And the iconic LaRue is a permanent fixture at such mega-events as Folsom in San Francisco and Southern Decadence in New Orleans. Having helmed literally hundreds of gay porn films since 1988, LaRue in 2003 also began to direct straight porn for colossus Vivid Video and quickly became a favorite among female stars, particularly Jenna Jameson. As a gay man, LaRue approached women with a sensitivity and genuine admiration that male straight porn directors often lacked. In addition, years of dealing with outsized personalities on the gay side gave LaRue the ability to handle straight porn's biggest divas (male and female). LaRue now divides her attention between Vivid Video and her own Rascal Video, distributed by another company she co-owns, Channel 1 Releasing. Apart from the popular Live & Raw live streaming video feeds (which included the now-shuttered Live & Raw Hotel), LaRue is expanding her empire to a branded line of dildos and other toys, as well as books, calendars and other merchandise. Rascal Video "Exclusive" models are among the most visible gay porn performers in the industry. Current exclusives include Luca DiCorso, Jan Fischer, and Johnny Hazzard (2005). In 2006, LaRue added to her empire with the acquisition of All Worlds Video. And Chi Chi is also an accomplished DJ, performing at many gay-themed events throughout the year. As a member of the adult industry, Chi Chi has used her star power to promote condom use both in videos and in private. Not only is she very vocal about safer sex, but she left Vivid Video in February 2006 over their change to a "condom optional" policy. In 2004, LaRue was photographed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders for his monograph, XXX: Thirty Porn-Star Portraits. The layout accompanied an interview conducted by John Waters, a self-professed fan of LaRue's work. The "directrix" also appeared in a companion documentary titled Thinking XXX which ran on HBO. Other recent documentary appearances include Porno Valley (another HBO series) and Cycles of Porn: Sex/Life L.A., Part 2 (from director Jochen Hick).
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