View source for "Pedophile Activism" hoaxes

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Due to the highly speculative and paranoid culture of [[anti]]-pedophile posturing, it is perhaps unsurprising that a number of '''hoax [[pedophilia]] organizations''' have been put forward by scaremongers and trolls. While it is true that [[MAP Movement|some activism took place under the pedophile banner]] in the 1970s and 80s, this was during a period where there existed far less of a stigma on the term. While the term "pedophile" was often used, most of the members of such organizations were technically [[hebephilia|hebephiles]] - as in the case of [[NAMBLA]] and [[Paedophile Information Exchange]] (see [[Media:PIEAOA.png|surveys of members]]).

"Pedophile Activist" hoax groups range from failed ideas and folded websites, rejected proposals, to utter contrivances from boards such as '''4Chan'''. As conservative [[grooming]] panic has spread in the 2020s, the LGBTQ+ community and adjacent people have even alleged Russian propaganda to deflect these attempts.<ref>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvmvka/libsoftiktok-kremlin-boost-anti-lgbtq-disinformation How LibsOfTikTok Is Helping the Kremlin Boost Anti-LGBTQ Disinformation - Vice]</ref><ref>[https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/08/libsoftiktok-linked-russian-disinformation-campaign-stir-outrage-lgbtq-rights/ LibsOfTikTok linked to Russian disinformation campaign to stir outrage over LGBTQ rights - LGBTQNation]</ref> Much earlier, fringe conservative groups had produced a list of hoaxes, which were nevertheless described as "''Pro Paedophilia Movement [...] A Few Of The More Notorious And Better-Known Boy-Love/Girl-Love Or Paedophile Associations And Organisation Web Sites''".<ref name=naffoundation>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080514174320/http://naffoundation.org/Pedophilia.htm#Pro-pedophilia Naffoundation list of orgs]</ref> Oftentimes, these hoaxes are based on a grain of truth, and are perpetuated by right-wing organizations/trolls who are attempting to "own the libs" by promoting the idea that the LGBTQ+ community are seeking to [[Historical examples of LGBT-MAP unity|realign with MAPs]] after the events of the 1990s.

==Modern hoaxes==

The more obvious hoaxes we cover below are to be distinguished from present initiatives within the [[MAP Movement]] that deploy baiting and psychological tactics to incite online controversies. At that point, accounts typically attempt to engage responders with good-faith information campaigns, including peer-reviewed literature. One of many baiting strategies appears to involve proposing that the LGBTQ+ community realign with MAPs (or chastises them for a lack of tolerance - see "MAP perpetuated hoaxes" below).

There are, nevertheless, as many, if not more genuine hoax pedophile activist initiatives, in which the motive is not sympathy towards pedophiles or MAPs. A few examples follow:

<gallery>
File:Lgbtp4chan.png|4Chan working on some fake posters for the LGBTP hoax
File:Lgbtp.jpg|A LGBTP hoax poster
File:Fakedemo.jpg|Fake 2017 Demo
File:Pedopride.png|Fake pedophile pride poster<ref>[https://www.them.us/story/fake-pedophile-pride-poster-oregon Them: Hoax pedo pride]</ref>
Fakeposter.png|Fake 2020 posters - examples
File:Falseflag.jpg|HeartProgress type trolling
File:Heartprogress.jpeg|The double-omega employed by HeartProgress - not to be considered a genuine symbol of MAPs
File:Josh.jpg|Doctored image of a TikToker advocating "decriminalization of pedophilia"
File:PedoAid.png|Example of bait being used to draw attention to a genuine MAP website ([[Newgon]]Wiki)
File:Basedandy.png|<small>A profound 2022 triggering, executed by the fake account of a [[MAP visibility on Twitter|genuine MAP Activist]]</small>
File:Neogen.png|<small>One example of sock puppets being used by hostile actors to astroturf a MAP-friendly site (FreeSpeechTube) with unfavorable opinions</small>
File:High.png|<small>A member of the same sock network posts an OP and then confects a 20+ reply sock discussion praising rape</small>
</gallery>

===LGBTP and HeartProgress===

'''LGBTP''', also known as '''HeartProgress''' or '''LoveIsAgeless''', is a fake outrage campaign manufactured by '''4chan''''s /pol/. The campaign added "P" (to represent "[[Minor attracted neologisms|pedosexuals]]") to the LGBT abbreviation (not be confused with "LGBTP" to include pansexuals). Characteristically, '''Snopes.com''' have used this example to promote their own misinformation about the LGBTQ+ movement, claiming, hilariously that "[never] has [[Historical examples of LGBT-MAP unity|any LGBT group condoned pedophilia]]".<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/LGBTP RationalWiki]</ref><ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/lgbtp-adding-letter/ Snopes (customarily erroneous) FC]</ref> In 2022, radical anti-trans activist [[Wikipedia:Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull|Kellie-Jay Keen]] circulated a hoax transgender advocacy blog in the style of Heartprogress, flaunting a display of solidarity for [[NAMBLA]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20221031183227/https://twitter.com/StandingforXX/status/1587120141384425472 Keen Transgender Hoax]</ref>

===Fake demonstrations===

The alt-right has also framed student protesters as "pedophiles", convincing even Donald Trump Jr. of the hoax's veracity. Mike Cernovich, an alt-right personality, arrived at Columbia University in October 2017, to give a speech to the school’s College Republicans club. But when students protested outside the event, trolls posed in front of them with a banner promoting [[NAMBLA]]. Cernovich and other alt-right figures quickly copied a journalist’s picture of the sign and tweeted it as evidence.<ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/alt-right-frames-protesters-as-pedophiles-with-fake-nambla-sign Daily Beast]</ref>

===Doxxing by impersonation===

[[File:Newgoninb4.png|thumb|In early 2023, Newgon identified an unsophisticated sock-puppet campaign pushing rape apologetics and misogyny on FST]]
Fake pedophile advocacy has been used in the [[Wikipedia:Doxing|doxxing]] of individuals by impersonation, notably among them, the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese in March, 2023. The popular 2SM radio station fielded no less than three "shock jocks" to repeat false claims that left their callers "incandescent with rage", convinced the PM had engaged in "pedophile apologia".<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/2sm/102059812 ABC on Triggered 2SM shock jocks]</ref> This method was also used against the British Dancer and TikTok personality, Joshua Hubbard in 2022. Hubbard had made comments in support of [[Transgender youth and attraction to minors|trans people]], supposedly penning a campaign of negative and derogatory reviews of gay venues that were visibly sympathetic to radical/gender-critical (i.e. conservative) feminists. While those who oppose such feminists within the gay movement are often suspected of engaging in pedophile advocacy, the doxxing campaign against Mr Hubbard (cited in our gallery) was particularly implausible, as no known [[MAP Movement|MAP Activist]] describes their activity as ''decriminalization of pedophilia''. MAP Activists typically point out that attractions such as [[pedophilia]] are by their very definition ''legal'', as opposed to some actions associated with attraction to minors.

Large groups of sock puppets have been created simultaneously and then deployed by hostile actors (suspected to be [[Operation Underground Railroad|anti-MAP NGOs]] planning a documentary<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaKpX_NzQ1g OURRescue: The Hidden War Teaser (YouTube)] see same video at [https://www.freespeechtube.org/v/19g5 FST archive]</ref>) on MAP-sympathetic websites such as FreeSpeechTube in the gallery above. In this case, the negative optics of rape apologism, misogyny and illegalism were used to misrepresent the [[MAP Movement]]. Bizarrely, the campaign also included an attempt to change the acronym "MAP" to "YAP".<ref>[https://www.freespeechtube.org/v/19Fp FST: Antis are planning a black propaganda/sockpuppet attack on FST] and [https://www.freespeechtube.org/v/1941 FST: Highoctagon muted me and is likely a "pro-rape" troll]. There were various posts from FST users and [[anti]] sockpuppets during this controversy. It appeared to end with banter, after a troll repeatedly rageposted his intent to sue the Strategist of Newgon Organization for defamation, and then had his posts removed.</ref>

===MAP-perpetuated hoaxes===

MAPs sometimes use fake personas to draw attention to themselves online - [[Newgon]] being one organization that uses these techniques. An example of this strategy, was the [[MAP visibility on Twitter|Twitter]] account "Andy Parkinson" - a fictitious and flamboyant British TV "gay agony uncle" who expressed his support of [[James Cantor]] - a Canadian Psychologist who famously advocates that [[pedophilia|pedophiles]] should be included under the LGBTQ+ umbrella on principled grounds.<ref>[https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/top-qc-slams-online-accounts-26758464 Scottish Daily Express: Top QC slams online accounts trying to 'normalise' paedophilia as a sexuality]</ref> 

In another, unrelated event (some time around 2021 or 2022), [[Chris Hansen]] - a former ''Dateline NBC'' front-man for the online stings of [[Perverted Justice]], was himself conned into supporting the MAP/[[lolicon]] [[Pediverse|Fediverse]] instance and suite of peer support facilities, '''Youjo.love''', via cameo.com, a "personalized video" platform upon which he now performs for his fans.<ref>[https://www.freespeechtube.org/v/18tr Chris Hansen baited by Youjo.love]</ref>

==Wiki-based misinformation==

The proliferation of Wiki-based information has contributed somewhat to pedophile activism hoaxes. In some cases, this has been well-intentioned, and in others, politically-motivated.

===Wikipedia===

'''Wikipedia''' had for much of the 00s, published an article with ever-changing and glaringly neologistic names including '''"Pedophile activism"'''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061013080319/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedophile_activism Pedophile activism on Wikipedia in 2006]</ref> '''"[[Childlove]] movement"'''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071207141501/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childlove_movement Childlove movement on Wikipedia in 2007 - redirected to "Pro-pedophile activism"]</ref>, '''"Pro-pedophile activism"'''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081218233448/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-pedophile_activism Pro-pedophile activism on Wikipedia in 2008, etc, etc.]</ref>, and '''"Pedophile movement"''' - supposedly in a vain attempt to distance historic manifestations of the [[MAP Movement]] from their [[Historical examples of LGBT-MAP unity|LGBT former allies]]. This article got bogged down with misinformation and was eventually deleted after steady erosion of information following the [[Wikipedia censorship of MAP related topics|pedo-wars]]. Indeed, by Wikipedia's own definition of [[pedophilia]], most of the organizations they list, or listed, drew mainly from a [[Hebephilia|hebephile]] membership base. Wikipedia were also the source of the below mentioned ''Indian National Man Boy Congress Party'' hoax.

===RationalWiki===

RationalWiki has made a mainly good-faith but autistic attempt at documenting "online pedophile activism". They came unstuck on outdated<ref>[http://www.cybercrimejournal.com/robertetaljan2009.htm D'Ovidio - Ancient paper that mentions [[Debate Guide]].]</ref>, superfluous and unverified information, resulting in a disjointed, piecemeal effort. For example, their list mentions our [[Debate Guide]], but for many years excluded names such as [[Newgon]] and [[B4U-ACT]], which one supposes they would wish to include by their very broad standards. In 2022, the RW article still expressed a fundamentally irrational approach to distinguishing pedophilia from other [[chronophilia]]s.<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Online_pedophile_activism RationalWiki on "Online pedophile activism"]</ref>

==Hoax organizations==

[[File:Img.jpg|thumb|The hilarious '''AboveTheHate/Heart Progress''' right-wing false flag; also note [[NAMBLA]]'s deceased [[Tom Reeves]]<ref>[https://www.nambla.org/tom_reeves.html Tom Reeves]</ref> as the avatar.]]Pedophile activism hoaxes are not exclusive to the social media era.

===Modern, second-wave fakes===
*Heart Progress, AboveTheHate and LGBTP (examples above) - Right-wing professional troll ops on social media, intended to embarrass mainstream progressives. The terms "Love Is Love" and "Love Has No Age" must be viewed with extreme suspicion, as they have been co-opted by similar trolling campaigns.
*Clovergender - a fake "xenogender" used by 4Chan trolls to "legitimize pedophilia" as "children stuck in adult bodies".<ref>[https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/clovergender Clovergender]</ref>
*Agefluid, similar to the above, is sometimes used by credible [[Pediverse|Fediverse]] personas, but should be viewed with suspicion. Agefluid appears to be related to the "transage" phenomenon, genuinely embraced by a few online [[Wikipedia:Otherkin|otherkin]].
*North American/Indiana Freedom Alliance, like LGBTP, used "pedosexual".<ref>[https://www.freespeechtube.org/v/11J1 North American/Indiana Freedom Alliance - One of many videos]</ref>
*Pedophile Associates of America.<ref>[https://reduxx.info/pro-pedophile-charity-head-arrested-for-child-sexual-abuse-images/ Reduxx - Andrew Zearley]</ref> This was a tax-exempt charity set up by what appears to be a mentally disturbed individual/sex offender who was later convicted for extreme pornography. It was unheard of, and carried out no day-to-day activities associated with the [[MAP Movement]].
*Indian National Man Boy Congress Party (1985-2008) - A hoax that originated on Wikipedia, being pushed for half a decade behind false citations in a now deleted article.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20150518021830/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedophile_press Wikipedia's ''Indian National Man Boy Congress Party'' Hoax, which developed a life of its own after being taken over by "lesser" Wikis.]</ref> Now said by various Wikis to have run its own magazine, the "Herald". No record of this organization exists, and none of the cited papers even mentioned it.

===Disputed, first-wave fakes===

These are disputed examples from the first-wave (LGBT-aligned) [[MAP Movement]]. If they did exist, membership would have most likely been minimal and short-lived.

*[[Rene Guyon Society]] - there is some debate concerning the reliability of this [[Wikipedia:René Guyon Society|organization]]'s membership figures.<ref>[https://boychat.org/messages/1426863.htm RGS - BoyChat users chime in]</ref> In reality, the René Guyon Society was a one-man operation ([[Tim O'Hara]]) blown to mythical proportions by right-wing scaremongers.
*[[Lafayette Society]] - a bizarre idea. The organization is said to have included a regression to the dress and mannerisms of historical aristocracy, provision of an environment in which children could engage in sex with adults, and use of glass instruments that reduce the girth of a grown man's phallus for the penetration of an infant.

===First-wave fakes<ref name=naffoundation />===

First-wave fakes often came about as a result of confusing genuine gay and pedophile activist activity with criminal organizations that shared [[Child Pornography]]. A number also appear to have been entirely fabricated.

<div style="column-count:3;-moz-column-count:3;-webkit-column-count:3">
*Paedophile Liberation Army - At no point in history have a group of [[pedophile]]s formed a military organisation. The ''concept'' has been suggested by an outspoken webmaster calling himself ''Ronald McDonald''.
*Children's Liberation Railway - May have been a concept of [[BLAZE]], the successor of the [[Australian Paedophile Support Group]].
*The Outcasts - [[Gayle Rubin]]'s group had nothing to do with pedophilia.
*Chocolate Star Fishermen
*Eulenspiegel Society
*Kids Liberation Front
*Kimeta Society
*Mancunians
*Oedipus Boys
*Orchid Club - Criminal ring unrelated to activism, see "Wonderland Club".
*PapaBears
*Queerlanders
*SIN - Sexual Inequality Networkers.
*Streetkids Club
*The Bunnymen
*The Choirboys
*The Circle of Friends
*The Freemen - This seems like a reference to Frank Herbert's Dune.
*The Love Brothers
*The Moonlighters
*The Peacock Club
*The Society of Janus
*The Tail Enders
*The Uranians
*UPIE (United Paedophile Information Exchange)
*Wizards Lair
*[[Wikipedia:Operation Cathedral|Wonderland Club]] - Was a [[child pornography]] organization of disputed size (Wikipedia repeats numerous unsubstantiated claims, some of which are contradicted by its own sources) and unrelated to activism.
</div>

==See also==

*[[San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus]]

==References==

[[Category:Official Encyclopedia]][[Category:Cyber Activism]][[Category:Anti-Pedophile culture]][[Category:Hysteria]][[Category:Organisations]][[Category:Organisations: Sympathetic]] [[Category:Organisations: Web-based]][[Category:Lists and Special Articles]][[Category:History & Events]][[Category:History & Events: Indian]][[Category:History & Events: American]]