Ethos of Newgon

Welcome to Newgon.net, the home of NewgonWiki - an information resource maintained by Newgon Organization and its support team.

Our site discusses and promotes alternative perspectives on physical attractions and relationships between legal minors and adults. In line with current trends, we also have an increasing focus on the social situation of minor attracted people (MAPs). Our aim is to produce information sources that are easy to use in front-line activism, and to organize that activism where possible. We are a non-membership organization with one binding and one non-binding policy position, as detailed below.

Inclusion/representation

We are inclusive, drawing upon a diverse community of people. Some of us have experienced age-discrepant relationships at different points in our lives. Others have experienced cross-generational physical attractions and accompanying social hostility. Some of us have experience of legal systems, professions and academia, pertaining to the above. We are united by the fact that we now want to pool our knowlegde collaboratively, and utilize it.

The MAP issue (and our policy)

Despite our crucial role in the birth of MAP discourse, Newgon Organization is not a peer-support group for MAPs. We nevertheless welcome their input, and boast of many members who are themselves MAPs. Unlike some (but not all) MAP/ally organizations, we firmly believe that research already strongly indicates that pedophilia (estimated at 3-5% prevalence by the DSM-5) is not a mental illness or disorder. We maintain that pedophilia is wrongly conflated with hebephilia, and used by the establishment and its media as a social scapegoat. We would like to see pedophilia addressed from a pure mental health point of view, with a secondary emphasis placed on reducing stigma and secondary harms through awareness raising. To this end, our binding policy is as follows:

Remove all reference to chronophilias from the DSM and ICD (binding position)

Our first position is that pedophilia should not be included as a category within the DSM, ICD and other diagnostic literature/guidance. Diagnostic categories should instead focus solely on the distress caused by a hostile social climate in relation to all non-normative identities, as opposed to labeling and pathologizing sexual inclinations.

The Youth issue (and our policy)

Our organization was founded in 2007 by teenage/youth MAP activists. We are a MAP and ally-led organization, and do not hide the fact that we seek to represent the interests of MAPs. Our policy positions are formed using a combination of the best available research literature on (and anecdotal knowledge of) youth perspectives. While a MAP bias will always be visible because of basic demographic realities, we also see youth rights and participation as crucial elements going forward. We often refer to the lived experiences of young people. We hold that peer-reviewed research indicates the monolithic belief system of Child Sexual Abuse is outdated and needs to be replaced with an alternative framework.

Anti-offending

While we maintain a reformist pro-choice position (see below) we are in favor of a non-offending lifestyle for all legal minors - referred to as "celibacy" in western erotophobic language. Sex-negative statutes, (including sex work laws) mean that legal minors may be institutionalized, criminalized and sometimes even registered for pursuing consensual relations with age peers and adults. Therefore, it is also incumbent upon adults not to offend, even if the offending aligns with their exclusive personal preferences. For both groups, we maintain that political action, co-operation, advocacy and personal development are instead, healthy and appropriate pursuits in the present climate.

Elective 12 is our (non-binding) Age of Consent position

The best available evidence supports the idea of an elective-emancipation system for young people aged 12 and up. We do not bind participants to this position.

The proposed model is in effect, a passport system where young people age 12 and up, can sign to emancipate themselves in (potentially) a variety of areas. With respect to adults and emancipated minors, this will include legal consent to physical/sexual relations. Other important rights may be included, however, we will not campaign on most of these issues until there are signs of an emerging policy consensus:

• Education
• Employment, inc. military
• Finance
• Driving a motor vehicle
• Alcohol, substances, gambling, body modifications and medical
• Graphic media content bars
• Voting (this might be dependent upon the above)

We propose that emancipation will be the choice of the young person, assuming they can be assessed by a doctor as mentally competent - broadly in line with their peers. With respect to sexual relations, the age of 12 is identical to the system employed in the Netherlands up until very recently. However, allowing young people to self emancipate gives them the power to choose what aspects of their lives they will be responsibile for. Various controlled outcome studies will be conducted by social scientists after these changes are put into effect, creating more jobs.

Official Guidance

We occasionally publish guidance on important topics such as:

• Coming out
• Paraphilia

These sections will always be described as "official guidance" and are subject to group consultation. Therefore they can be considered to be loosely stated organizational positions on various topics, but not central parts of our platform as such.

Organizational activities

Our approach is conservative and sustainable; we describe it as "radical philosophy, moderate demands".

With respect to the broader movement, a non-dogmatic "integrative model" is highly appropriate in the early stages, widening its scope and public appeal. Newgon Organization realizes the limitations of reintroducing outward-facing pro-choice activism to the MAP discourse, as we have taken part in similar campaigning in the past - with varying levels of success. We do believe a pro-choice alternative that aggressively combats the trauma myth, is a necessary counter-balance to the present-day alternatives. We also believe that our presence will encourage participation, and foster literacy throughout a broader range of topics, serving us well in the future. With respect to the future, building a body of knowledge (NewgonWiki) continues to be our first priority.

Press releases

Newgon Organization occasionally publishes press releases on important topics. A list follows:

• 18 Nov 2021 - Allyn Walker controversy re. Old Dominion University
• 13 Sep 2022 - Amber Parker controversy re. Franklin High School

In addition to our ever-present MediaWiki-based projects, we occasionally produce information packs for dissemination to the public, and/or media - usually under the Yesmap campaign banner:

• January 2022 - Minor-adult sex becomes a contentious social topic: A summary of recent press activity and research
• February 2022 - Accessible summary of Rind's most recent findings