Wikitext of Wikipedia articles censored in 2023

Censorship is arguably necessary in the day-to-day running of Wikipedia: The Online Encyclopedia. However, some examples of censorship, such as those that took place in the wake of 22Spears, 86Sedan and Jeremy Malcolm's permanent suspensions in 2023, are particularly egregious. Here, we reproduce the Wikitext of three such articles - Minor-attracted person, Stigma of pedophilia, and Allyn Walker. You will need Wikipedia's internal citation template to make the references display as legible, however, it is easy to decipher what documents the references relate to. To grab the wikitext with all the line breaks preserved, simply go to the source and cut the wikitext between the nowiki tags.

'''Minor-attracted person''' (abbreviated to '''MAP''') is an [[umbrella term]] that covers a range of minor-related [[chronophilia]]s,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lievesley |first1=Rebecca |last2=Lapworth |first2=Rhia |date=2022 |title="We Do Exist": The Experiences of Women Living with a Sexual Interest in Minors |journal=[[Archives of Sexual Behavior]] |language=en |volume=51 |issue=2 |pages=879–896 |doi=10.1007/s10508-021-02160-z |issn=0004-0002 |pmc=8888496 |pmid=34791582}}</ref> including [[pedophilia]] and [[hebephilia]].<ref name="saraj">{{Cite journal |last1=Jahnke |first1=Sara |last2=Blagden |first2=Nicholas |last3=Hill |first3=Laura |date=2022 |title=Pedophile, Child Lover, or Minor-Attracted Person? Attitudes Toward Labels Among People Who are Sexually Attracted to Children |journal=[[Archives of Sexual Behavior]] |language=en |volume=51 |issue=8 |pages=4125–4139 |doi=10.1007/s10508-022-02331-6 |issn=0004-0002 |pmc=9663395 |pmid=36175817}}</ref><ref name="aaa">{{Cite journal |last1=Lievesley |first1=Rebecca |last2=Swaby |first2=Helen |last3=Harper |first3=Craig A. |last4=Woodward |first4=Ellie |date=2022 |title=Primary Health Professionals' Beliefs, Experiences, and Willingness to Treat Minor-Attracted Persons |journal=[[Archives of Sexual Behavior]] |language=en |volume=51 |issue=2 |pages=923–943 |doi=10.1007/s10508-021-02271-7 |issn=0004-0002 |pmc=8793822 |pmid=35084616}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Raymond |first=Shane |date=2023-01-19 |title=FactCheck: The European Commission doesn't use the term 'minor-attracted person' instead of 'paedophile' |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/does-the-eu-used-the-term-minor-attracted-person-instead-of-paedophile-5971313-Jan2023/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[TheJournal.ie]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Cohen |first1=Lisa J. |last2=Wilman-Depena |first2=Sherilyn |last3=Barzilay |first3=Shira |last4=Hawes |first4=Mariah |last5=Yaseen |first5=Zimri |last6=Galynker |first6=Igor |date=2020 |title=Correlates of Chronic Suicidal Ideation Among Community-Based Minor-Attracted Persons |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1079063219825868 |journal=[[Sexual Abuse (journal)|Sexual Abuse]] |language=en |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=273–300 |doi=10.1177/1079063219825868 |pmid=30678527 |s2cid=59250990 |issn=1079-0632}}</ref> The inclusion of [[ephebophilia]] under this category is controversial among some academics.<ref name="aaa" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Walker |first=Allyn |date=2020-10-14 |title="I'm Not like That, So Am I Gay?" The Use of Queer-Spectrum Identity Labels Among Minor-Attracted People |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00918369.2019.1613856 |journal=[[Journal of Homosexuality]] |language=en |volume=67 |issue=12 |pages=1736–1759 |doi=10.1080/00918369.2019.1613856 |pmid=31124744 |s2cid=163166318 |issn=0091-8369}}</ref> This term, as well as its variants,{{NoteTag|Variants of the term minor-attracted person include ''minor-attracted adult'' and ''minor-attracted man'', among others.<ref name="saraj" />}} has been used in some scientific publications as a replacement for the words "pedophile" and "hebephile", as well as a catch-all for any group of people who feel sexually attracted to minors under the age of 17.<ref name="saraj" /> Further reasons for its usage include the lesser amount of negative connotation attached to it compared to other similar terms,<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Walker |first1=Allyn |last2=Butters |first2=Robert P. |last3=Nichols |first3=Erin |date=2022 |title="I Would Report It Even If They Have Not Committed Anything": Social Service Students' Attitudes Toward Minor-Attracted People |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1079063221993480 |journal=[[Sexual Abuse (journal)|Sexual Abuse]] |language=en |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=52–77 |doi=10.1177/1079063221993480 |pmid=33586525 |s2cid=231925738 |issn=1079-0632}}</ref> as well as the need of some mental health professionals and researchers to address persons who are attracted to minors in a way that does not imply that they have committed a sexual offense.<ref name="saraj" /><ref name=":1" /> ''Minor-attracted person'' has been used by some [[academics]],<ref name="saraj" /><ref name=":03">{{Cite web |date=2019-07-09 |title=A flag for pedophiles? It exists, but it is not a push for inclusion in the LGBT community |url=https://factcheck.afp.com/pride-flag-pedophiles-someone-created-one-no-one-waves-it |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[Agence France-Presse]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> psychiatrists,<ref name=":1" /> anti-[[child sexual abuse]] organizations<ref name=":03"/><ref name=":2" /> and online communities for people who are sexually attracted to minors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-09 |title=A flag for pedophiles? It exists, but it is not a push for inclusion in the LGBT community |url=https://factcheck.afp.com/pride-flag-pedophiles-someone-created-one-no-one-waves-it |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=Fact Check |language=en}}</ref> This term has rarely been used in popular discourse.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Jara |first1=Giovanna A. |last2=Jeglic |first2=Elizabeth |date=2021-09-02 |title=Changing public attitudes toward minor attracted persons: an evaluation of an anti-stigma intervention |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13552600.2020.1863486 |journal=[[Journal of Sexual Aggression]] |language=en |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=299–312 |doi=10.1080/13552600.2020.1863486 |s2cid=233890607 |issn=1355-2600}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> The usage of ''minor-attracted person'' has been the cause of multiple online commotions<ref name=":03" /><ref name=":1" /> and [[LGBT grooming conspiracy theory|anti-LGBT hoaxes]].<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> In 2018 and 2019, several news outlets and social media posts falsely claimed that a flag attached to this label was associated with a supposed "rebranding" and inclusion of pedophiles into the [[LGBT community]].<ref name=":03"/><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Squirrell |first=Aoife Gallagher & Tim |date=2023-04-06 |title=Analysis: Don't fall for the 'groomer' slur - it's an old trick used to stir hatred of LGBTQ+ people |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/lgbtq-issues-in-ireland-6038700-Apr2023/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=[[TheJournal.ie]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Suen |first=Brennan |title=How the hoax that the LGBTQ community is embracing pedophiles went viral |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/4chan/how-hoax-lgbtq-community-embracing-pedophiles-went-viral |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=[[Media Matters for America]] |language=en}}</ref> == Etymology and usage == The term ''minor-attracted person'' was adopted by the mental health nonprofit B4U-ACT in 2007.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sorrentino |first=Renée |date=2021-07-01 |title=Minor-attracted persons: A neglected population |url=https://www.mdedge.com/psychiatry/article/242357/minor-attracted-persons-neglected-population |journal=Current Psychiatry |volume=20 |issue=7 |doi=10.12788/cp.0149|s2cid=246886997 }}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2022-08-11 |title=Preply Survey: Americans Mixed on term "Minor-Attracted Persons" - B4U-ACT |url=https://www.b4uact.org/news-language-survey/ |archive-url=https://archive.is/cMbal |archive-date=2023 |access-date=2023-05-05 |language=en-US}}</ref> It was derived from the term ''minor-attracted adult'', which in turn was first used by Heather Peterson, an independent journalist covering [[Interfaith dialogue|interfaith]] issues, in a 1998 article.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Appel |first=Jacob M. |date=2022-08-02 |title=Unconventional harm reduction interventions for Minor-attracted persons |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14777509221117981 |journal=[[Clinical Ethics]] |language=en |pages=21–27 |doi=10.1177/14777509221117981 |s2cid=251300608 |issn=1477-7509}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Elizabeth Peterson |first=Heather |date=Dec 1998 |title="Not an Oxymoron" |url=http://www.greenbelt.com/news/98/12/02.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000920050814/http://www.greenbelt.com/news/98/12/02.htm |archive-date=2000 |website=Greenbelt Interfaith News}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> === Variants === Variants of the term ''minor-attracted person'' include ''minor-attracted adult'' and ''minor-attracted man''. The rarer usage of ''youth-attracted person'' has also been observed among research subjects,<ref name="saraj" /> and has been controversial.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Casiano |first=Louis |date=2023-04-26 |title=Twitter suspended user who revealed pedophile flag has account suspended |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/twitter-suspended-user-revealed-pedophile-203838369.html |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=[[Yahoo! Finance]] |language=en}}</ref> The label ''non-offending minor-attracted person'' (abbreviated to [[wikt:NOMAP|NOMAP]]) has been used to refer to people who are attracted to minors, but are committed not to engage in criminal actions.<ref name=":03"/><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stevens |first1=Eleanor |last2=Wood |first2=Jane |date=2019-11-17 |title="I Despise Myself for Thinking about Them." A Thematic Analysis of the Mental Health Implications and Employed Coping Mechanisms of Self-Reported Non-Offending Minor Attracted Persons |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10538712.2019.1657539 |journal=[[Journal of Child Sexual Abuse]] |language=en |volume=28 |issue=8 |pages=968–989 |doi=10.1080/10538712.2019.1657539 |pmid=31509097 |s2cid=202556784 |issn=1053-8712}}</ref> Some social media users have used the label ''anti-contact'' ''(non-offending)'' ''minor-attracted person'' (abbreviated to ACNOMAP) to denote that they oppose the idea of adult-minor sexual contact. Other users have labeled themselves as ''pro-contact'' or ''pro-choice'' to denote the opposite.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Dodds |first=Io |date=2020-01-09 |title=Twitter accused of aiding child abuse by allowing 'explosion' of online paedophile communities |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/01/09/twitter-accused-aiding-child-abuse-allowing-explosion-online/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Walker |first=Allyn |author-link= |date=June 2021 |title=A Long Dark Shadow |url=https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520306363/a-long-dark-shadow |location= |publisher=University of California Press |page= |isbn=}}</ref> ''Minor-attracted person'' has a been used as a less stigmatizing replacement term for the words "pedophile" and "hebephile".<ref name="saraj" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Parr |first1=Jennifer |last2=Pearson |first2=Dominic |date=2019-11-17 |title=Non-Offending Minor-Attracted Persons: Professional Practitioners' Views on the Barriers to Seeking and Receiving Their Help |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10538712.2019.1663970 |journal=[[Journal of Child Sexual Abuse]] |language=en |volume=28 |issue=8 |pages=945–967 |doi=10.1080/10538712.2019.1663970 |pmid=31525147 |s2cid=202641546 |issn=1053-8712}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> According to Richard Kramer, this is a term that empathises attraction rather than behavior.<ref name=":3" /> Counting from the first year that the term was used in academia, ''minor-attracted person'' and its variants have been used in 21 academic articles from 2017 to 2021. Researchers have used this term sometimes as a substitute for "pedophilia" and "hebephilia", and other times as an umbrella term for all groups of people who are sexually attracted to minors under the age of 17, including those at late-puberty and post-puberty. Common themes in those articles included the stigma surrounding sexual attractions to minors and obstacles to help-seeking behaviors among pedophiles, as well as child sexual abuse prevention.<ref name="saraj" /> === Usage among persons sexually attracted to minors === People who are sexually attracted to minors have used the label ''minor-attracted person'' to describe themselves on both online forums (such as [[Virtuous Pedophiles]])<ref name="saraj" /> and social media websites (such as [[Tumblr]] and Twitter).<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":03"/> In two studies conducted to samples of persons sexually attracted to minors to evaluate their label preferences, one from 2013 and another from 2020, some participants used the term ''minor-attracted person'' to refer to themselves, which they described as an improvement over the term ''pedophile''. Participants of the latter study often found ''minor-attracted person'' less stigmatizing, but also more vague and "clunky".<ref name="saraj" /> In another 2020 study where 306 participants recruited from online communities for people who are sexually attracted to minors were told to choose one or more preferred labels to describe themselves, the majority selected "child lover" (52%), followed by "pedophiles" (51%) and "minor-attracted persons" (40%). A 2022 study conducted among members of pedohebephilic support groups (such as [[Virtuous Pedophiles]], among others) found that 34% of participants labeled themselves as minor-attracted persons or variants.<ref name="saraj" /> On social media, the term ''minor-attracted person'' has been used by people who are sexually attracted to minors but have chosen not to commit sexual offenses. This label has also been used by [[Troll (slang)|internet trolls]] posing as self-described MAPs. B4U-ACT co-founder Russell Dick told the [[Agence France-Presse]] that online trolls have "posed as MAPs" in order to paint a negative picture of legitimate persons who do identify with the label.<ref name=":03"/> === Usage among other groups === ''Minor-attracted person'' has been used by some anti-child sexual abuse organizations, such as the Global Prevention Project, and mental health nonprofits such as B4U-ACT. Due to past criticism, the former stated on their website that "to reiterate, this is not a term we invented, NOR is it a term used to rebrand pedophiles OR link them to the LGBTQ community” [sic].<ref name=":03"/> Some [[psychiatrist]]s have used the label ''minor-attracted person'' to distinguish between persons who are sexually attracted to minors but have not commited a sexual offense and convicted or suspected child sexual abusers.<ref name=":1" /> == Reception == The usage of the term ''minor-attracted person'' was criticized by [[Sunday Independent (Ireland)|''Sunday Independent'']] columnist and professor emeritus of psychiatry at the [[UCD School of Medicine]] [[Patricia Casey]] as an attempt to rename pedophiles and normalize pedophilia. In the article, she falsely accused the [[European Commission]] of using this term.<ref name=":1" /> In a 2021 episode of [[Tucker Carlson Tonight]], [[Tucker Carlson]] criticized a university assistant-professor for using the term ''minor-attracted person''. The segment's headline was titled "The Left's Depraved New Low".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=Professor who wrote about adults attracted to minors resigns |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/norfolk-old-dominion-university-tucker-carlson-virginia-people-b1963938.html |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carlson |first=Tucker |date=2022-09-19 |title=Tucker Carlson: Only a society that hates children would allow this |url=https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-society-hates-children-would-allow-this |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=[[Fox News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Former Democratic House Representative [[Tulsi Gabbard]], in her speech at the [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] (CPAC) 2023, stated that the [[Biden Administration]] was “trying to tell us paedophilia is normal because minor-attracted people are acceptable”.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-04 |title=The eight most bizarre lines from CPAC 2023 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/cpac-2023-donald-trump-b2294300.html |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Lauren Boebert]], while sharing a [[Libs of TikTok]] video clip where a former assistant-professor from the [[Old Dominion University]] used the term ''minor-attracted person'', stated that "every person who uses the term MAP needs to be ostracized from civil society".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Logue |first=Derek W. |date=2022-10-26 |title=How 'Cancel Culture' Stifles Efforts to Combat Child Sexual Abuse |url=https://thecrimereport.org/2022/10/26/how-cancel-culture-stifles-efforts-to-combat-child-sexual-abuse/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=The Crime Report |language=en-US}}</ref> A 2022 survey conducted by [[Preply]] reported that 45% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans felt annoyed by this term.<ref name=":5" /> In that same year, the previous usage of minor-attracted person by [[Jacob Breslow]] at a 2011 mental health symposium, as well as its usage by two American educators and a sex therapist caused multiple social media controversies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Andrew |date=2022-07-11 |title=Licensed Pennsylvania sex therapist defends 'minor-attracted persons' in viral video |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/licensed-pennsylvania-sex-therapist-defends-minor-attracted-persons-viral-video |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=[[Fox News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Allsharif |first=Mirna |date=2022-09-10 |title=Texas teacher on administrative leave after telling students to call pedophiles 'minor attracted persons' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-teacher-administrative-leave-telling-students-call-pedophiles-mi-rcna47064 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=[[NBC News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Jon |date=2022-10-06 |title=Trustee of transgender kids' charity resigns after unearthed speech to group for 'minor-attracted persons' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/trustee-transgender-kids-charity-resigns-unearthed-speech-group-minor-attracted-persons |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=[[Fox News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-04 |title=Mermaids trustee quits over paedophile-group links |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63137873 |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=[[BBC News]] |language=en}}</ref> == Controversies == === 2021 Old Dominion University controversy === In November 2021, then-assistant professor at [[Old Dominion University]] (ODU) [[Allyn Walker]] used the term ''minor-attracted person'' in an interview with a child protection organization. A short clip of the interview was shared by [[Libs of TikTok]] on Twitter with the description "they are coming for your kids". The clip went viral on social media and caused a public [[Change.org]] petition for ODU's administration to remove Walker from office.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-03 |title=Professor placed on leave after saying paedophiles should be destigmatised |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/allyn-walker-professor-paedophile-virginia-b1960427.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Roderick |date=2023-01-03 |title=LibsofTikTok's Interviews Prove She's Not Unbiased. She's Generating Hate |url=https://www.newsweek.com/libsoftiktoks-interviews-prove-shes-not-unbiased-shes-generating-anti-lgbtq-hate-opinion-1771049 |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[Newsweek]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="odu" /> After violent threats were made against Walker and the university campus, Walker was placed on [[administrative leave]]. In a joint media statement published by Old Dominion University president [[Brian Hemphill]], the institution said that "decisions were made to protect the life and safety of faculty members and others on campus and beyond".<ref name="odu">{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Brendan |date=2021-11-25 |title=Who is Allyn Walker? ODU Professor Quits After Pedophilia Remarks Spark Backlash |url=https://www.newsweek.com/allyn-walker-virginia-old-dominion-university-pedophilia-minor-attracted-1653340 |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[Newsweek]] |language=en}}</ref> During the controversy, a public letter signed by over 60 professors of fields related to sexual abuse was issued in support of Walker's scholarship.<ref name="odu" /> Another letter was issued by ODU's American Association of University Professors (AAUP), in which the association stated that "we lament the loss of our dear colleague and call for explicit and immediate improvements in communication, due process, and protections of academic freedom by the administration leading Old Dominion University."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-03 |title=ODU chapter of national organization publishes letter sharing concern of professor stepping down over controversial interview |url=https://www.wtkr.com/news/national-organization-publishes-letter-sharing-concern-of-odu-professor-stepping-down-over-controversial-interview |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[WTKR]] |language=en}}</ref> {{Cquote | quote = "The public backlash reflects a misunderstanding and mischaracterization of Walker's research. (...) We urge you to consider the dire ramifications [of removing a professor from their office] for academic freedom." | author = Public letter to [[Old Dominion University|ODU]]'s administration signed by over 60 researchers.<ref name="odu"/> }} In May 2022, Walker was hired as a [[Postdoctoral researcher|postdoctoral fellow]] at [[Johns Hopkins University]]'s Moore Center for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Emma |date=2022-05-13 |title=Abuse Center Explains Allyn Walker Hiring After Pedophilia Comments Fallout |url=https://www.newsweek.com/abuse-center-explains-allyn-walker-hiring-after-pedophilia-comments-fallout-1706533 |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref> === 2022 Police Scotland controversy === In mid-2022, two [[Police Scotland]] annual reports used the term,<ref name="fullfactpolicescotland">{{cite web |title=Police Scotland says it hasn’t renamed paedophiles as ‘minor attracted people’ |url=https://fullfact.org/online/police-scotland-not-renamed/ |website=Full Fact |access-date=12 May 2023 |language=en |date=31 January 2023}}</ref> while referencing a proposal for a project funded by the [[Horizon Europe]] EU funding initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-01 |title=Police Scotland denies officially labelling paedophiles 'minor-attracted people' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-scotland-paedophiles-minor-attracted-people-b2254110.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref> Their use of the term was condemned by several politicians, who called it a "watering down", or said the term risked normalizing pedophilia.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dearden |first1=Lizzie |title=Police Scotland denies officially labelling paedophiles ‘minor-attracted people’ |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-scotland-paedophiles-minor-attracted-people-b2254110.html |website=The Independent |access-date=12 May 2023 |language=en |date=1 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Simon |title=Fury as Police Scotland describes paedophiles as ‘minor-attracted people’ |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/12/30/scottish-police-call-paedophiles-minor-attracted-people-major/ |website=The Telegraph |access-date=12 May 2023 |date=31 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Furtado |first1=Annet Preethi |title=False: Police Scotland has renamed pedophiles 'Minor-Attracted People.' |url=https://www.logically.ai/factchecks/library/34d261b7 |website=Logically |access-date=12 May 2023 |language=en-gb}}</ref> Some falsely claimed that the [[European Commission]] had officially adopted the term, though the Commission is not responsible for the language used in EU project proposals.<ref name=":1" /> In September 2022, Police Scotland successfully lobbied for the term to be removed from the project proposal, and told media outlets that "the term was entirely unacceptable in describing someone either involved in sexual offending against children or who has indecent thoughts towards them".<ref name="fullfactpolicescotland"/> === False associations between ''minor-attracted people'' and LGBT pride === [[File:Tumblr_user_who_created_the_map_flag_2018_(cropped).jpg|thumb|260x260px|Social media post where the flag was first published.]]{{See also|LGBT grooming conspiracy theory}} On June 13, 2018, an anonymous [[Tumblr]] social media user published the artwork of a flag for people who labeled themselves as ''non-offending minor-attracted persons''. Further on, the flag was also used by some [[Twitter]] users who also identified with the label. Despite false social media claims that followed the publication of this icon, there is no evidence that this flag was created as a campaign to normalize pedophilia or include it under the [[LGBT]] umbrella. Furthermore, it has not been verified whether its author was a legitimate user of the label ''minor-attracted person'' or an [[internet troll]].<ref name=":03"/> After the flag was published, multiple anti-pedophile social media call-out posts about the MAP flag were made in the [[Pride Month|pride months]] (June) of 2018 and 2019. Further on, many news websites, such as [[The Daily Caller]] and [[LifeSiteNews]] published multiple articles falsely claiming that pedophiles were attempting to be included into the [[LGBT community]]. According to social media monitoring tool [[CrowdTangle]], those articles were shared over 20,000 times on Facebook.<ref name=":03" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Evon |first=Dan |date=2018-08-01 |title=Was a 'Pedophiles Are People Too' Notice Posted Near an Oregon School? |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/pedophile-poster-oregon/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=[[Snopes]] |language=en}}</ref> Aside from the false claims that were spread online regarding this flag and its supposed connection to LGBT pride, multiple other social media campaigns were also made as an attempt to promote the unfounded theory that the LGBT community was attempting to normalize and legitimize pedophilia.<ref name=":0" /> == See also == * {{annotated link|Chronophilia}} * {{annotated link|Pedophilia}} * {{annotated link|Hebephilia}} * {{annotated link|Ephebophilia}} == Endnotes == {{NoteFoot}} == References == <references /> == Further reading == * [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-022-02331-6 Pedophile, Child Lover, or Minor-Attracted Person? Attitudes Toward Labels Among People Who are Sexually Attracted to Children]. [[Archives of Sexual Behavior]], 2022. Free paper. * [https://factcheck.afp.com/pride-flag-pedophiles-someone-created-one-no-one-waves-it A flag for pedophiles? It exists, but it is not a push for inclusion in the LGBT community]. [[Agence France-Presse]], 2019. * [https://archive.is/j2ZsP Archive of the post where the MAP flag was created]. 2018. * [https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2022/december/statement-regarding-use-of-term-minor-attracted-person/ Statement regarding use of term Minor-Attracted Person] [[Police Scotland]], 2022.

[[File:Todos_contra_a_Pedofilia_(4996631189).jpg|thumb|230x230px|Brazilian senator displaying a t-shirt that reads "everyone against pedophilia" in the [[Federal Senate (Brazil)|Federal Senate]] (2010).]] The '''stigma of pedophilia''' is a form of [[social stigma]] or aversion directed toward [[pedophilia|pedophiles]], i.e. people who are sexually attracted to [[Child|prepubescent children]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Harper |first=Craig A. |last2=Lievesley |first2=Rebecca |last3=Blagden |first3=Nicholas J. |last4=Hocken |first4=Kerensa |date=2022-02-01 |title=Humanizing Pedophilia as Stigma Reduction: A Large-Scale Intervention Study |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02057-x |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |language=en |volume=51 |issue=2 |pages=945–960 |doi=10.1007/s10508-021-02057-x |issn=1573-2800 |pmc=8888370 |pmid=34716500}}</ref> It takes form in negative emotional reactions ([[disgust]],<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Jahnke |first=Sara |date=2018-05-01 |title=The Stigma of Pedophilia: Clinical and Forensic Implications |url=https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/10.1027/1016-9040/a000325 |journal=[[European Psychologist]] |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=144–153 |doi=10.1027/1016-9040/a000325 |issn=1016-9040}}</ref> [[fear]], loathing, [[hatred]], etc.), punitive beliefs and stereotyping.<ref name=":11">{{Cite journal |last=Harper |first=Craig A. |last2=Bartels |first2=Ross M. |last3=Hogue |first3=Todd E. |date=2016-12-14 |title=Reducing Stigma and Punitive Attitudes Toward Pedophiles Through Narrative Humanization |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1079063216681561 |journal=[[Sexual Abuse (journal)|Sexual Abuse]] |language=en |pages=107906321668156 |doi=10.1177/1079063216681561 |issn=1079-0632}}</ref> Anti-pedophile stigma is a worldwide phenomenon.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Heron |first=Rebecca L. |last2=Schwiekert |first2=Lena |last3=Karsten |first3=Julie |date=2023-01-01 |title=Meeting a person with pedophilia: Attitudes towards pedophilia among psychology students: A pilot study |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01384-5 |journal=Current Psychology |language=en |volume=42 |issue=2 |pages=1022–1033 |doi=10.1007/s12144-021-01384-5 |issn=1936-4733}}</ref> Common sentiments toward pedophiles in the general population include those that they should be incarcerated or murdered, even if they have never committed any sexual offense.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Heron |first=Rebecca L. |last2=Schwiekert |first2=Lena |last3=Karsten |first3=Julie |date=2023-01-01 |title=Meeting a person with pedophilia: Attitudes towards pedophilia among psychology students: A pilot study |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01384-5 |journal=Current Psychology |language=en |volume=42 |issue=2 |pages=1022–1033 |doi=10.1007/s12144-021-01384-5 |issn=1936-4733}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Walker |first=Allyson |last2=Panfil |first2=Vanessa R. |date=2017-03-01 |title=Minor Attraction: A Queer Criminological Issue |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-016-9342-7 |journal=[[Critical Criminology (journal)|Critical Criminology]] |language=en |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=37–53 |doi=10.1007/s10612-016-9342-7 |issn=1572-9877}}</ref> Popular beliefs regarding pedophilia include those that pedophiles commonly engage with sexual activities with children,<ref name=":13" /> that having a sexual attraction to children is something that one chooses for oneself<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":5" /> and that people with pedophilia are [[Amorality|amoral]].<ref name=":52">{{Cite journal |last=Jahnke |first=Sara |date=2018-05-01 |title=The Stigma of Pedophilia: Clinical and Forensic Implications |url=https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/10.1027/1016-9040/a000325 |journal=[[European Psychologist]] |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=144–153 |doi=10.1027/1016-9040/a000325 |issn=1016-9040}}</ref> People included under this category are popularly characterized as "evil, "monsters" and "fiends".<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Kohm |first=Steven A. |last2=Greenhill |first2=Pauline |date=2011 |title=Pedophile crime films as popular criminology: A problem of justice? |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1362480610388974 |journal=Theoretical Criminology |language=en |volume=15 |issue=2 |pages=195–215 |doi=10.1177/1362480610388974 |issn=1362-4806}}</ref> This type of stigma may also be extended to other minor-related [[Chronophilia|chronophilic]] groups, such as [[Hebephilia|hebephiles]].<ref name=":10" /> The effects of anti-pedophile stigma among people sexually attracted to minors include the fear of being outed,<ref name=":2" /> suicidal ideation,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cohen |first=Lisa J. |last2=Wilman-Depena |first2=Sherilyn |last3=Barzilay |first3=Shira |last4=Hawes |first4=Mariah |last5=Yaseen |first5=Zimri |last6=Galynker |first6=Igor |date=2020 |title=Correlates of Chronic Suicidal Ideation Among Community-Based Minor-Attracted Persons |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1079063219825868 |journal=Sexual Abuse |language=en |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=273–300 |doi=10.1177/1079063219825868 |issn=1079-0632}}</ref> self-loahting,<ref name=":15">{{Cite journal |last=Parr |first=Jennifer |last2=Pearson |first2=Dominic |date=2019-11-17 |title=Non-Offending Minor-Attracted Persons: Professional Practitioners’ Views on the Barriers to Seeking and Receiving Their Help |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10538712.2019.1663970 |journal=Journal of Child Sexual Abuse |language=en |volume=28 |issue=8 |pages=945–967 |doi=10.1080/10538712.2019.1663970 |issn=1053-8712}}</ref> [[anxiety]],<ref name=":15" /> stigma-related [[Psychological stress|stress]], suppression of sexual thoughts, reduced wellbeing, the internalization of the stigma and reluctance to receive external help when needed.<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |last=Lievesley |first=Rebecca |last2=Lapworth |first2=Rhia |date=2022 |title=“We Do Exist”: The Experiences of Women Living with a Sexual Interest in Minors |url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10508-021-02160-z |journal=[[Archives of Sexual Behavior]] |language=en |volume=51 |issue=2 |pages=879–896 |doi=10.1007/s10508-021-02160-z |issn=0004-0002 |pmc=8888496 |pmid=34791582}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Lievesley |first=Rebecca |last2=Harper |first2=Craig A. |last3=Elliott |first3=Helen |date=2020-05-01 |title=The Internalization of Social Stigma Among Minor-Attracted Persons: Implications for Treatment |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01569-x |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |language=en |volume=49 |issue=4 |pages=1291–1304 |doi=10.1007/s10508-019-01569-x |issn=1573-2800 |pmc=7145785 |pmid=31925747}}</ref> Women who are sexually attracted to minors have reported feeling less social stigma than their male counterparts.<ref name=":10" /> __TOC__ Many researchers believe that this form of stigma is detrimental to the prevention of child sexual abuse because it obstructs at-risk pedophiles from coming out to seek mental health care before they potentially commit a sexual offense.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last=Walker |first=Allyn |last2=Butters |first2=Robert P. |last3=Nichols |first3=Erin |date=2022 |title="I Would Report It Even If They Have Not Committed Anything": Social Service Students' Attitudes Toward Minor-Attracted People |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33586525/ |journal=Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=52–77 |doi=10.1177/1079063221993480 |issn=1573-286X |pmid=33586525}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Owing to the recognition of the role of this type of stigma in the sexual victimization of children, as well as its implications for [[Clinical psychology|clinical]] and [[Forensic psychology|forensic]] professionals who provide mental health treatment for pedophiles, the prevalence and characteristics of anti-pedophile stigma became a topic of scientific research.<ref name=":5" /> == Research == Up to 2004, very few historical documentations of pedophilia and public sentiments toward to pedophiles have been produced, with [[Philip Jenkins]]'s 1998 [[academic book]] ''Moral Panic: Changing Concepts of the Child Molester in Modern America'' being an exception.<ref name="histoaffect">{{Cite journal |last=Angelides |first=Steven |date=2004-03-23 |title=Historicizing Affect, Psychoanalyzing History: Pedophilia and the Discourse of Child Sexuality |url=https://doi.org/10.1300/J082v46n01_02 |journal=[[Journal of Homosexuality]] |volume=46 |issue=1-2 |pages=79–109 |doi=10.1300/J082v46n01_02 |issn=0091-8369}}</ref> In 2013, a research led by Sara Jahnke identified the stigma of pedophilia as a "blind-spot" of contemporary [[Social stigma|stigma]] research and suggested several potentially relevant consequences of the widespread stigmatization of pedophiles.<ref name=":112">{{Cite journal |last=Harper |first=Craig A. |last2=Bartels |first2=Ross M. |last3=Hogue |first3=Todd E. |date=2016-12-14 |title=Reducing Stigma and Punitive Attitudes Toward Pedophiles Through Narrative Humanization |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1079063216681561 |journal=[[Sexual Abuse (journal)|Sexual Abuse]] |language=en |pages=107906321668156 |doi=10.1177/1079063216681561 |issn=1079-0632}}</ref> Research into the prevalence and characteristics of the social stigmatization of people with pedophilia started growing in the 2010's.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":11" /><ref name=":5" /> The growth of [[Academy|academic]] interest in this topic has been influenced by the recogniton of this form of stigma as detrimental to the prevention of child sexual abuse.<ref name=":53">{{Cite journal |last=Jahnke |first=Sara |date=2018-05-01 |title=The Stigma of Pedophilia: Clinical and Forensic Implications |url=https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/10.1027/1016-9040/a000325 |journal=[[European Psychologist]] |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=144–153 |doi=10.1027/1016-9040/a000325 |issn=1016-9040}}</ref> == Popular beliefs and attitudes == [[File:Graffiti Poznan Pedofilia.jpg|thumb|195x195px|Anti-pedophile graffiti in Poland, 2011.]] Common stereotypes about people with pedophilia include the beliefs that they are [[Amorality|amoral]],<ref name=":52" /> dangerous or in control of their sexual desires.<ref name=":5" /> People included in this group are also popularly characterized as "evil", "monsters" and "fiends".<ref name=":4" /> In a pair of joint studies, 14% and 28% of participants felt that it would be better if people with pedophilia were dead, even if they had never commited a sexual offense.<ref name=":9">{{Cite journal |last=Knack |first=Natasha |last2=Winder |first2=Belinda |last3=Murphy |first3=Lisa |last4=Fedoroff |first4=J. Paul |date=2019-02-17 |title=Primary and secondary prevention of child sexual abuse |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2018.1541872 |journal=International Review of Psychiatry |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=181–194 |doi=10.1080/09540261.2018.1541872 |issn=0954-0261 |pmid=30917709}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> In the same surveys, 39% and 48% of participants believed that such people should be preemptively incarcerated.<ref name=":0" /> In a 2018 study, participants considered a specific pedophilic person to be dangerous even after they were explicitly told by the researchers that the person in question has never and would never commit a sexual crime.<ref name=":3" /> In a 2004 survey, most participants agreed that pedophiles engaged in a variety of sexual (61% for kissing, 90% for fondling, 76% for having sex with) and nonsexual (70% for spending time with, 76% for talking to) activities with children. In the same study, 58% of participants agreed that pedophiles are evil. In another 2010 study, where participants were asked what came to their minds when they think of a pedophile, 68% mentioned "sexually abusing children" and only 11% of participants said that this might not necessarily be the case.<ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |last=Jahnke |first=Sara |last2=Hoyer |first2=Juergen |date=2013 |title=Stigmatization of People With Pedophilia: A Blind Spot in Stigma Research |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19317611.2013.795921 |journal=[[International Journal of Sexual Health]] |language=en |volume=25 |issue=3 |pages=169–184 |doi=10.1080/19317611.2013.795921 |issn=1931-7611}}</ref> Aside from the general public, pedophiles themselves can also internalize negative social attitudes against pedophilia.<ref name=":1" /> Anti-pedophile sentiments have also been observed among mental health providers<ref name=":83">{{Cite journal |last=Jahnke |first=Sara |date=2018 |title=Emotions and Cognitions Associated with the Stigma of Non-Offending Pedophilia: A Vignette Experiment |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29159755/ |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |volume=47 |issue=2 |pages=363–373 |doi=10.1007/s10508-017-1073-7 |issn=1573-2800 |pmid=29159755}}</ref> and prison populations.<ref name=":03">{{Cite journal |last=Walker |first=Allyson |last2=Panfil |first2=Vanessa R. |date=2017-03-01 |title=Minor Attraction: A Queer Criminological Issue |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-016-9342-7 |journal=[[Critical Criminology (journal)|Critical Criminology]] |language=en |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=37–53 |doi=10.1007/s10612-016-9342-7 |issn=1572-9877}}</ref> == Media coverage of pedophilia == [[File:Martin Van Maele - La Grande Danse macabre des vifs - 32.jpg|thumb|222x222px|Illustration by [[Martin van Maële]] with subtitles that read: "Oh you old bastard, I will give you some good sweets." 1905.]]Negative attitudes toward pedophiles have been amplified by the popular media.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Stelzmann |first=Daniela |last2=Jahnke |first2=Sara |last3=Kuhle |first3=Laura F. |date=2020 |title=Media Coverage of Pedophilia: Benefits and Risks from Healthcare Practitioners’ Point of View |url=https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5739 |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |language=en |volume=17 |issue=16 |pages=5739 |doi=10.3390/ijerph17165739 |issn=1660-4601 |pmc=7460489 |pmid=32784429}}</ref><ref name=":11" /> Several researchers have theorized that dehumanizing stereotypes have been brought up due to the way that the media presents sexual crimes. A 2017 study stated that, "when asked about 'sex offenders', many [people] are inclined to envision the media-proliferated stereotypical image of a violent, predatory male pedophile." Another 2015 research reported that British [[Tabloid journalism|tabloid]] newspapers are particularly prone to using dehumanizing language ("monster", "beast", etc.) to describe sexual abusers, as well as labeling sex offenders as "pedophiles". The study concluded that these actions may be aggravating processes of [[moral disengagement]] against pedophiles among the general public.<ref name=":11" /> A 2004 British study reported that 58% of participants agreed that the media had created a "witch-hunt" against pedophiles.<ref name=":13" /> A New Zealand study that analyzed 377 news articles regarding child sexual abuse published by three major newspapers over the course of a year found that those articles featured a very small input from experts of the field of child sexual abuse, with 15% featuring input from [[Health professional|health professionals]] and 3% from academics.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Malinen |first=Sanna |last2=Willis |first2=Gwenda M. |last3=Johnston |first3=Lucy |date=2014-07-03 |title=Might informative media reporting of sexual offending influence community members' attitudes towards sex offenders? |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1068316X.2013.793770 |journal=Psychology, Crime & Law |language=en |volume=20 |issue=6 |pages=535–552 |doi=10.1080/1068316X.2013.793770 |issn=1068-316X}}</ref> Despite the existence of stigmatizing mediatic portrayals of pedophilia and child sexual abuse, there are also evidence-based media reports concerning the treatment of pedophilic disorder and child sexual abuse prevention.<ref name=":6" /> == Implications for sexual abuse prevention == Many sexologists and forensic practitioners believe that the stigma of pedophilia might increase the risk of sexual offending against children by, among other effects, damaging the mental health of people who are sexually attracted to minors or discouraging them from seeking mental health care before potentially committing an offense.<ref name=":6" /> Pedophiles and other groups of people who are attracted to children are hesitant to seek out mental health services due to fears of being judged by their providers or being reported to the police.<ref name=":7" /> The guilt and shame, as well as the social stigma of pedophilia, can prevent those who are motivated for treatment from voluntarily seeking help.<ref name=":9" /> In a 2010 study, 40% of self-identified minor-attracted persons reported having wanted to seek mental health treatment, but 85% did not do so due to fears of being misunderstood.<ref name=":9" /> Another study published in the same year reported that only 5% of its sample of German psychoterapists were willing to provide therapeutical help to pedophiles. In a 2015 survey conducted to mental health professionals, 80% of participants stated that they would not reject pedophile patients, provided that they had never commited a sexual crime.<ref name=":5" /> === Mandatory reporting laws === In most U.S. states, social service providers (such as psychologists and [[Social work|social workers]]) have a [[duty to warn]] authorities that their patients pose an imminent danger to themselves or others. Those professionals are also subjected to a [[Mandatory reporting in the United States|mandatory reporting]] requirements to [[child protective services]] if they believe that a child has been abused. These regulations may lead providers to interpret that they are mandated to report any patient that discloses that they are sexually attracted to children.<ref name=":7" /> Mandatory reporting laws also exist in Canada. According to [[James Cantor]], the effect of mandatory reporting policies is that "many people simply don't come [to therapy] in the first place."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hildebrandt |first=Amber |date=2014 |title=Virtuous Pedophiles group gives support therapy cannot |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/virtuous-pedophiles-group-gives-support-therapy-cannot-1.2710160 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/y3y2g |archive-date=2020 |website=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> == Effects among people attracted to minors == The effects of social stigma among people sexually attracted to children include stigma-related stress, suppression of sexual thoughts, reducted wellbeing, internalization of the stigma, fear of being outed<ref name=":2" /> and reluctance to receive external help when needed.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":1" /> A 2011 survey reported that people sexually attracted to children often start feeling intense feelings of stigma from an early age. Among the participants who answered the questions related to suicide, 46% reported seriously considered killing themselves, 32% had planned a method of carrying it out and 13% had attempted it.<ref name="kramer">Kramer, Richard. (2011). "[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365993590_The_DSM_and_the_Stigmatization_of_People_who_Are_Attracted_to_Minors The DSM and the stigmatization of people who are attracted to minors]". Symposium conducted at the meeting of the B4U-ACT, Westminster, MD. </ref> {{Cquote | quote = "I'm a 15-year-old male. (...) I'm only attracted to prepubescent girls. (...) sometimes I feel like killing myself. I know the idea of a psychologist and everything but I can't talk to anyone at this time because my parents would find out and get the wrong idea (...)" | author = anonymous research participant, 2011.<ref name="kramer" /> }} Pedohebephile females have reported experiencing less stigma than their male counterparts.<ref name=":10" /> == In specific countries == === United States === [[File:Wapello sign.jpg|thumb|Anti-sex offender sign in [[Wapello, Iowa|Wapello]], Iowa.|181x181px]] In the U.S., child protection issues gained social prominence during the late 1980's and early 1990's, with the 1987 case of [[Earl Kenneth Shriner]], who raped and mutilated a 6-year-old boy, the [[murder of Jacob Wetterling]] in 1990, the 1993 abduction and [[murder of Polly Klaas]] and the rape and [[murder of Megan Kanka]]. These cases caused a revival of sexual predator laws and civil commitment statutes, the enactment of [[sex offender registries in the United States]], as well as the ratification of pedophile-free zones.<ref name=":14">{{Cite journal |last=Neuilly |first=Melanie-Angela |last2=Zgoba |first2=Kristen |date=2006-09-01 |title=Assessing the Possibility of a Pedophilia Panic and Contagion Effect Between France and the United States |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15564880600626122 |journal=Victims & Offenders |language=en |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=225–254 |doi=10.1080/15564880600626122 |issn=1556-4886}}</ref> === France === The term "pedophilia" only gained broad usage in France after the 1970's. In the 1990's, sexual and child protection-themed crimes gained prominency in the French legislation.<ref name=":14" /> In their 1997 book, ''La pédophilie,'' authors Renaud Fillieule and Catherine Montiel emphatize that there is no such thing as a crime of pedophilia according to French Law, though laws that punish sexual assault (''aggression sexuelle'') and sexual "trespass" (''atteinte sexuelle'') do exist.<ref name=":14" /> === Brazil === Though the Brazilian Legislation does not classify "pedophilia" as an official criminal category, the word is still used in everyday discourse as an umbrella term to refer to a psychological condition and to criminal acts, such as child pornography possession and the rape of a child below the age of 14.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last=Lowenkron |first=Laura |date=2013 |title="All against pedophilia": ethnographic notes about a contemporary moral crusade |url=http://www.scielo.br/j/vb/a/PYbygz94W3zyzzPrqf5Zszs/?lang=en |journal=Vibrant: Virtual Brazilian Anthropology |language=en |volume=10 |pages=39–72 |doi=10.1590/S1809-43412013000200002 |issn=1809-4341}}</ref> After the [[Federal Police of Brazil|Brazilian Federal Police]], in a partnership with the [[Interpol]], launched an anti-child pornography operation in 2007, the [[Federal Senate (Brazil)|Brazilian Federal Senate]] established the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee on Pedophilia (''CPMI da pedofilia'') to discuss the topic of sexual crimes relating to children. The leader of the committee, senator [[Magno Malta]], labeled this effort, in his words, as an "anti-pedophilia crusade".<ref name=":12" /> == See also == * [[Anti-pedophile activism]] * [[Child sexual abuse]] * [[Pedophilia]] * [[Chronophilia]] * [[Primary prevention of child sexual abuse]] * [[Social stigma]] == References == <references /> == Further reading == * [https://time.com/3486493/preventing-child-sex-abuse-stephen-collins/ We Need to Make It Easier for Pedophiles To Seek Help]. [[Time (magazine)|Time]] magazine, 2014. * [https://verdict.justia.com/2016/07/12/lift-stigma-virtuous-pedophiles Should We Lift the Stigma on “Virtuous Pedophiles”?] [[Justia]]'s Verdict, 2016. * [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/virtuous-pedophiles-group-gives-support-therapy-cannot-1.2710160 Virtuous Pedophiles group gives support therapy cannot]. [[CBC News]], 2014. * [https://www.thecollegefix.com/johns-hopkins-u-hires-academic-who-wants-to-destigmatize-pedophilia/ Johns Hopkins U. hires academic who wants to ‘destigmatize’ pedophilia]. [[The College Fix]], 2022. * [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-021-02057-x Humanizing Pedophilia as Stigma Reduction: A Large-Scale Intervention Study]. [[Archives of Sexual Behavior]], 2022. Free article. * [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-019-01569-x The Internalization of Social Stigma Among Minor-Attracted Persons: Implications for Treatment]. [[Archives of Sexual Behavior]], 2020. Free article. * [https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt5hk0vf Moral Panic: Changing Concepts of the Child Molester in Modern America]. [[Yale University Press]], 1998. Paid academic book.

'''Allyn Walker''' is an American [[Criminal justice#Academic discipline|criminal justice]] researcher and author. They are known for their research relating to child sexual abuse, their advocacy for mental health treatment for people who are attracted to minors and for their use of the term ''[[minor-attracted person]]''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Professor whose 'minor-attracted person' research on pedophilia created stir lands new job |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/may/15/allyn-walker-professor-whose-pedophilia-research-c/ |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=[[The Washington Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-25 |title=Who is Allyn Walker? ODU Professor Quits After Pedophilia Remarks Spark Backlash |url=https://www.newsweek.com/allyn-walker-virginia-old-dominion-university-pedophilia-minor-attracted-1653340 |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=[[Newsweek]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":7" /> Walker has worked as a counselor for victims of sexual assault, as an [[assistant professor]] of sociology and criminal justice at [[Old Dominion University]] from 2019 to 2021,<ref name=":2" /> as well as a [[Postdoctoral Fellow|posdoctoral fellow]] at [[Johns Hopkins University]].<ref name=":9" /> Walker identifies as transgender and uses "they/them" pronouns.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> In 2021, Walker's use of the term ''minor-attracted people'' in a public interview spawned a controversy that culminated in them being put on [[administrative leave]] from the Old Dominion University due to safety reasons in 2021.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Haulenbeek |first=Sydney |title=ODU's Struggle with Academic Freedom Casts a Long, Dark Shadow |url=https://maceandcrown.com/2245/news/odus-struggle-with-academic-freedom-casts-a-long-dark-shadow/ |archive-url=https://archive.is/IGw5Y |archive-date=9 Aug 2022 |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Mace & Crown}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> In response to the negative news coverage of the controversy, a letter containing the signatures of 63 experts of the fields of mental health and child sexual abuse was issued in support of Walker's academic work, referring to it as important and ground-breaking.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Letourneau |first=Elizabeth |date=Dec 3, 2021 |title=A Virginia college professor set off a firestorm about pedophilia |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/12/03/virginia-college-professor-set-off-firestorm-about-pedophilia/}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |title=ODU professor steps down after firestorm over research into 'minor-attracted people' |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/11/24/allyn-walker-odu-professor-resigns/ |access-date=2023-03-25 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Walker is also known for their [[academic book]] ''A Long, Dark Shadow'', which defends the idea that not all people who are sexually attracted to minors are sex offenders and advocates for the facilitation of mental health treatment for these groups.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":8" /> Amid public controversy, the book became a [[Bestseller|best-seller]] on Amazon.<ref name=":5" /> == Academic life == Walker's first job was as a [[social work]]er, where they acted as a counsellor for victims of sexual assault and child sexual abuse.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=Professor who wrote about adults attracted to minors resigns |url=https://apnews.com/article/media-crime-education-virginia-norfolk-2adff01de54205e6513d5071f29e772a |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=[[Associated press]] |language=en}}</ref> In 2017, Walker earned their Ph.D. in [[criminal justice]] at the [[John Jay College of Criminal Justice|John Jay College]] and the [[City University of New York]]. Their thesis was titled ''Understanding Resilience Strategies Among Minor-Attracted Individuals''.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |last=Walker |first=Allyson |date=2017-09-01 |title=Understanding Resilience Strategies Among Minor-Attracted Individuals |url=https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2285 |journal=Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects}}</ref> In 2019, they were hired at the [[Old Dominion University]], where they worked as an [[assistant professor]] of sociology and criminal justice.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":2" /> In June 2021, Walker published an [[academic book]] titled ''A Long, Dark Shadow: Minor-Attracted People and Their Pursuit of Dignity.'' The book was built on the research that they had done during their dissertation.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2021-12-03 |title=Professor placed on leave after saying paedophiles should be destigmatised |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/allyn-walker-professor-paedophile-virginia-b1960427.html |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref> In November 2021, Walker agreed to an [[administrative leave]] from Old Dominion due to violent threats that they had received because of their use of the term ''minor-attracted people''.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /> In May 2022, they were hired as a [[Postdoctoral Fellow|postdoctoral fellow]] at the [[Johns Hopkins University]]'s Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse.<ref name=":1" /> == Positions and findings == === On child sexual abuse === {{See also|Child sexual abuse}} Walker advocates for the prevention of child sexual abuse through the preemptive clinical treatment of people who are sexually attracted to minors. They also see the stigma of this group of people as a deterrent factor that obstructs them from seeking psychological counsel.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> A 2022 research lead by Walker reported that 54% of a sample of surveyed [[Social services|social service]] students agreed that they would report "a pedophile" to the police when no sexual offense was mentioned. This rate would, however, drop to 7% when the person in question was labeled as a person with a sexual interest in children but had not committed any child sexual crime.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Schmidt |first=Alexander F. |last2=Niehaus |first2=Susanna |date=November 2022 |title=Outpatient Therapists’ Perspectives on Working With Persons Who Are Sexually Interested in Minors |url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10508-022-02377-6 |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |language=en |volume=51 |issue=8 |pages=4157–4178 |doi=10.1007/s10508-022-02377-6 |issn=0004-0002 |pmc=9663344 |pmid=35939157}}</ref> Walker is opposed to the normalization of sexual activities between adults and children and claims that their beliefs about the topic were mischaracterized by a coordinated media attack against LGBT people.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /> Walker believes that it is "never OK" for someone to abuse a child, but also that there is no morality attached to the sexual attraction toward children for as long as it is not acted upon.<ref name=":9" /> === On pedophilia === {{See also|Pedophilia}} Walker believes that pedophilia is a hardwired and unchosen sexual attraction.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Bindel |first=Julie |date=2023-04-02 |title=Keep child abusers off the rainbow flag |url=https://unherd.com/2023/04/keep-child-abusers-off-the-rainbow-flag/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=UnHerd |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> In their book, ''A Long, Dark Shadow,'' they encouraged people who are attracted to minors to never act upon their sexual desires and to seek psychological counsel if they felt at risk of offending.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Logue |first=Derek W. |date=2022-10-26 |title=How ‘Cancel Culture’ Stifles Efforts to Combat Child Sexual Abuse |url=https://thecrimereport.org/2022/10/26/how-cancel-culture-stifles-efforts-to-combat-child-sexual-abuse/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=The Crime Report |language=en-US}}</ref> Walker has argued that the construction of ''pedophilia'' as a criminal issue has caused a neglect to the mental health of minor-attracted people. They believe that a more humanistic approach to counseling this group of people is beneficial to the prevention of child sexual abuse.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Levenson |first=Jill S. |last2=Grady |first2=Melissa D. |last3=Morin |first3=John W. |date=December 2020 |title=Beyond the “Ick Factor”: Counseling Non-offending Persons with Pedophilia |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10615-019-00712-4 |journal=Clinical Social Work Journal |language=en |volume=48 |issue=4 |pages=380–388 |doi=10.1007/s10615-019-00712-4 |issn=0091-1674}}</ref> They belive that the notion that all pedophiles are sex offenders is "not true" and leads to many misconceptions about attractions toward minors.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Schwerha |first=Alexa |date=2022-05-13 |title=Johns Hopkins hires professor known for defending attraction to minors |url=https://campusreform.org/article?id=19560 |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=[[Campus Reform]] |language=en}}</ref> Walker's view that minor-attracted people were simply people who had commited a crime changed after they started researching the topic.<ref name=":2" /> === On the use of the term minor-attracted person === {{See also|Minor-attracted person}} Walker advocates for the use of the term ''minor-attracted person'' due to the fact that it carries less stigma than the word ''pedophile''. They believe that there is a moral difference between people who have an unchosen attraction to children but have not acted upon such feelings and those who have this same attraction and have done so.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":2" /> They believe that there is no morality or immorality attached to a sexual attraction, as it is beyond human control. Walker does believe, however, that actions can carry moral connotation.<ref name=":5" /> == A Long, Dark Shadow == In June 2021, Walker released a book titled ''A Long, Dark Shadow: Minor-Attracted People and Their Pursuit of Dignity.''<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":4" /> The book was built on the research they had done during their Ph.D. thesis in 2017. It was published by the [[University of California Press]].<ref name=":2" /> The book documented the lives of people sexually attracted to minors, arguing that those people are not necessarily predators.<ref name=":10" /> In it, Walker stated that they worked as a counselor for victims of sexual abuse, and that they would feel "enraged" by what they heard from their clients, wishing they could have done something to prevent their victimization.<ref name=":0" /> Furthermore, the book describes how Walker's views on people who are attracted to children changed during their research.<ref name=":2" /> === Reception === The book became a best-seller on Amazon.<ref name=":5" /> It was also criticized for its usage of the term ''minor-attracted person''.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" /> In an interview with ''[[Washington Post|The Washington Post]]'', a student who started a [[Change.org]] petition against Walker said that their language was a "slap in the face" of child sexual abuse victims.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Virginia professor to step down after backlash to research on 'minor-attracted' people |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/virginia-professor-step-backlash-research-minor-attracted-people-rcna6709 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> The same student also said that the book gave a "pat on the back" of pedophiles for not acting upon their sexual desires.<ref name=":4" /> == Controversy relating to their "Minor-Attracted people" interview == On November 8, 2021, Walker had an online interview with child protection organization Prostasia Foundation about the topic of sexual attractions to minors and child sexual abuse prevention.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kwong |first=Jessica |date=2021-11-18 |title=Professor on leave for saying attraction to minors isn't immoral |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/11/18/professor-on-leave-for-saying-sexual-attraction-to-kids-isnt-immoral-15621766/ |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |language=en}}</ref> Two days later, a [[Trans exclusionary radical feminism|trans-exclusionary radical feminist]] blog published an article titled ''"Non-Binary” University Instructor Calls To ‘Destigmatize’ Pedophilia [sic].'' The article covered Walker's interview with Prostasia, where they advocated for the use of the term ''minor-attracted person'' instead of the word "pedophile". The article also [[misgender]]ed Walker multiple times.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-10 |title=UPDATE: "Non-Binary" University Instructor Calls To 'Destigmatize' Pedophilia |url=https://4w.pub/old-dominion-university-assistant-professor-comes-out-in-support-of-destigmatizing-pedophilia/ |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=4W – Feminist News |language=en}}</ref> On November 12, a clip of Walker's interview with Prostasia was shared by [[Libs of TikTok]] with the title "they are coming for your kids".<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-03 |title=LibsofTikTok's Interviews Prove She's Not Unbiased. She's Generating Hate |url=https://www.newsweek.com/libsoftiktoks-interviews-prove-shes-not-unbiased-shes-generating-anti-lgbtq-hate-opinion-1771049 |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref> Ten days further, amid the public controversy, an [[open letter]] signed by 63 experts of the field of psychology, mental health and criminology was issued to the president and other high-ranking members of the Old Dominion University in defense of Walker.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> On November 16, Walker agreed to an [[administrative leave]] from the Old Dominion University.<ref name=":4" /> On December 10, Old Dominion’s American Society of University Professors published an open letter in support of Walker.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=2021-12-03 |title=ODU chapter of national organization publishes letter sharing concern of professor stepping down over controversial interview |url=https://www.wtkr.com/news/national-organization-publishes-letter-sharing-concern-of-odu-professor-stepping-down-over-controversial-interview |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=[[WTKR]] |language=en}}</ref> === Response from the university === On November 24, 2021, the president of the university, [[Brian Hemphill]], published a letter condemning the attempts of intimidation and threats against Walker and defending that controversial ideas should be debated and not silenced.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-12 |title=A Joint Statement from Old Dominion University and Dr. Allyn Walker |url=https://www.odu.edu/article/a-joint-statement-old-dominion-university-and-dr-allyn-walker |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=Old Dominion University |language=en}}</ref> === Media coverage === The Libs of TikTok clip of Walker's interview with Prostasia was [[Re-tweet|retweeted]] by American senator [[Ted Cruz]] and [[James A. Lindsay|James Lindsay]]. The [[New York Post]], the Daily Mail and Fox News also shared the clip, accusing the professor of trying to normalize the sexual grooming of children. The incident was also discussed in the [[Tucker Carlson Tonight|Tucker Carlson Show]].<ref name=":3" /> === Response from Walker === Walker told [[The Washington Post]] that the idea that they were defending child sexual abuse was "absolutely outrageous" and that they, as well as the LGBT community, were a victim of a coordinated media attack.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Doherty |first=Erin |date=2021-11-20 |title=Old Dominion University professor on leave amid protests over research on pedophilia |url=https://www.axios.com/2021/11/20/old-dominion-professor-leave-research-pedophilia |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=[[Axios (website)|Axios]] |language=en}}</ref> Walker also stated that they, as well as the university campus, had received violent threats during the controversy, and that their positions were mischaracterized, partly due to their trans identity.<ref name=":2" /> In a public statement, Walker stated that their research into this controversial topic had been done in order to identify ways of protecting children.<ref name=":5" /> === Hiring at Johns Hopkins University === On May 25, 2022, days after their contract with the Old Dominion University expired, Walker was hired as a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins' Moore Center for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse.<ref name=":9" /> The organization, which describes itself as a center for changing the way that society views child sexual abuse "from inevitable to preventable" made several tweets welcoming Walker as a new member.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-15 |title=Professor gets new job after pedophilia research caused stir |url=https://apnews.com/article/education-virginia-norfolk-sexual-abuse-old-dominion-university-6cf49cea85d30d362cb4ed255d8459eb |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref> == Criticism == Walker's research was criticized by the president of the [[International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation]], Michael Salter, for not being victim-centered enough. He said, in 2022, that too much prevention work was being done by researchers who have solely worked with offenders or people sexually attracted to minors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Neil |first=Tyler |date=2022-05-13 |title=Johns Hopkins center against child sexual abuse hires professor who defended 'minor-attracted persons' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/johns-hopkins-center-child-sexual-abuse-hires-professor-minor-attracted-persons |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref>{{NoteTag|Allyn Walker has claimed that they have worked as a counselor for sexual assault victims when they were a social worker.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=Professor who wrote about adults attracted to minors resigns |url=https://apnews.com/article/media-crime-education-virginia-norfolk-2adff01de54205e6513d5071f29e772a |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=[[Associated press]] |language=en}}</ref>|name=note 2}} In 2023, radical feminist [[Julie Bindel]] accused Walker's academic research of suggesting that the answer to people's attractions to minors was to "feed the beast".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bindel |first=Julie |date=2023-04-02 |title=Keep child abusers off the rainbow flag |url=https://unherd.com/2023/04/keep-child-abusers-off-the-rainbow-flag/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=UnHerd |language=en-GB}}</ref> Walker has also been criticized by [[Bill Donohue]] in a 2022 essay, the president of the [[Catholic League (U.S.)|Catholic League]], who called Walker "a biological woman who thinks she is a man" and tied the normalization of pedophilia to homosexual activism.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Logue |first=Derek W. |date=2022-10-26 |title=How ‘Cancel Culture’ Stifles Efforts to Combat Child Sexual Abuse |url=https://thecrimereport.org/2022/10/26/how-cancel-culture-stifles-efforts-to-combat-child-sexual-abuse/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=The Crime Report |language=en-US}}</ref> == Academic works == * Walker, A., Butters, R.P. and Nichols, E., 2022. “I would report it even if they have not committed anything”: Social service students’ attitudes toward minor-attracted people. ''Sexual Abuse'', ''34''(1), pp. 52–77.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Walker |first=Allyn |last2=Butters |first2=Robert P. |last3=Nichols |first3=Erin |date=2022 |title="I Would Report It Even If They Have Not Committed Anything": Social Service Students' Attitudes Toward Minor-Attracted People |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33586525/ |journal=Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=52–77 |doi=10.1177/1079063221993480 |issn=1573-286X |pmid=33586525}}</ref> * Walker, A., 2021. ''A long, dark shadow: Minor-attracted people and their pursuit of dignity''. Univ of California Press.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Walker |first=Allyn |url=https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520306363/a-long-dark-shadow |title=A Long, Dark Shadow: Minor-Attracted People and Their Pursuit of Dignity |date=2021 |isbn=978-0-520-30636-3 |language=en}}</ref> * Walker, A. (2017). ''Understanding resilience strategies among minor-attracted individuals'' (Doctoral dissertation). CUNY Academic Works.<ref name=":13" /> == See also == {{Portal|Sexuality|Crime}} * [[Criminal justice]] * [[Transformative justice]] * [[Child sexual abuse]] * [[Pedophilia]] == Notes == {{NoteFoot}} == References ==  {{reflist}} == External links == * [https://prostasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Letter-of-Support-for-Walker-from-Researchers_Clinicians.pdf Letter of Support for Walker from Researchers and Clinicians]

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