Pedophiles work together?

I have already posted a thread about my situation as an exclusive pedophile. I would like to hear if anybody else here would like to get together and work towards authorities, clinicans, media, etc, to change the harmful perspective in today's society?

I'm not talking about a new Nambla, with fighting for our rights to have sex with a child. No, I'm talking about some kind of organization fighting for the right to live a good life, with a good and safe opportunity to get help and support, to make it more possible to come forward to frends and family etc. The stigma is now hurting so many people, and giving pedophiles a bad self image, alcohol problems, destructive thoughts, loneliness, various psychiatric disorders. All negative things that increase the risk of molesting children.

We are human, let's show them that we are?

I am not a paedophile, I suffer from POCD (the fear of being attracted to kids, so of course I am constantly doubting this lol)...but I think this is a great idea. And hats off to you for being so brave. It takes only one inspirational person to change the world...don't ever be put off by the ignorance of others. I wish you all the best

Lonelyrider wrote:All negative things that increase the risk of molesting children.

And that play into the hands of the haters, who can't wait to tar your with the 'freak' label.

Anyway, do you mean for the USA or internationally. I'm in Britain, and I'd prefer to call myself a non-exclusive teleiophile, but as a sympathiser, an advocate of sanity and someone irked by stupidity and hysteria... I'm in.

I would urge caution though. Apart from documentaries on the most evil and twisted sex offenders, where the producers are clearly out to pander to public appetite for lurid details on even more lurid crimes, I can think of only two times I have seen paedophiles on TV presenting a pro-paedophilia message. I am of the opinion that on both occasions the only reason the television channel in question allowed such material to be broadcast was that the paedophiles in question were shifty, nervous types who were pretty poor when it came to articulating their thoughts. In other words, even these instances fall into the same category of 'freak show' because it was more than evident that the feckless, faltering numbskulls had been carefully selected to detract from the very cause they espoused.

Anyway, with that admonition, I'll still say I support any cause that reduces hysteria.

Dear Lonelyrider,

There is an organization which is already addressing many of the needs which you have pointed out. B4U-ACT is an organization founded to increase communication and understanding between mental health practitioners and minor-attracted people. They advocate for access to safe, competent mental health care and for the reduction of stigma.

Check out their website. I strongly urge you to contact them.

-- Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:02 pm --

Lonelyrider, the following recently published letter will give you a good idea of the types of things B4U-ACT is working on.

B4U-ACT Responds to Pejorative Letter in Harvard Mental Health Letter

B4U-ACT joined with seven mental health professionals to object to an article recently published in the Harvard Mental Health Letter. The open letter sent in response follows:

B4U-ACT, Inc.
P.O. Box 1754
Westminster, MD 21158

April 25, 2011
The Editor
Harvard Mental Health Letter
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Dear Editor,

We wish to respond to the article Pessimism About Pedophilia published in your July 2010 issue.

A broader examination of the facts demonstrates that pessimism as a professional response to pedophilia and hebephilia is unjustified and leads to serious undesirable consequences.

People who are attracted to children or adolescents can and do contribute positively to their communities and to society. The non-profit organization B4U-ACT, based in Maryland, consists of such people working together with mental health professionals to promote dialog, the dissemination of accurate information, and the accessibility of compassionate mental health services. The people who are attracted to minors that we know deal with their sexuality in responsible ways and live within the law. They care about the well-being of children and adolescents as much as other people; many are parents themselves.

Most available information about minor-attracted people is inaccurate and incomplete. Most minor-attracted people do not come to the attention of the criminal justice or mental health systems, or when they do, their positive characteristics and contributions are not acknowledged. As a result, descriptions are based solely on non-representative forensic samples and inaccurate assumptions about their feelings and motives. Non-forensic research presents a more hopeful picture, finding that they may be similar to the general population in personality and psychological functioning (Okami & Goldberg, 1992; Wilson & Cox, 1983). In addition, there is strong evidence that their feelings of attraction may be similar to those of people attracted to adults: they may involve feelings of affection, tenderness, and romantic attraction (Blanchard, 2009; Li, 1990b; Sandfort, 1987; Wilson & Cox, 1983).

Treatment can be very effective. Some minor-attracted people connected to B4U-ACT have experienced therapy that helped them to find ways of coping with their sexuality and society's response to it, and to develop fulfilling relationships while living within the law. Such treatment is only effective when the therapist has an accurate understanding of pedophilia or hebephilia, shows empathy and compassion for the patient, and works cooperatively with the patient to develop treatment goals and approaches.

Pessimism, inaccurate and negative characterizations, and a reliance on law-enforcement rather than therapeutic approaches by the mental health profession seriously discourage minor-attracted people from seeking services. Such responses strongly suggest to potential clients that mental health professionals will not understand them, will respond to them with suspicion or hostility, will ignore their mental health needs, or will report their feelings to authorities. In a recent survey of minor-attracted people conducted by B4U-ACT, one respondent said, “I have no way of knowing if they'll call the cops just for telling them my attraction. I wouldn't want to see a psychologist unless I can be truly open and honest. So that's out.” Another said, “I can never reveal the fact that I am a pedophile. At least now, they do not know that they hate me, and that is the best that I can ever hope for.” Altogether, 54% of 166 respondents cited fears that therapists would report their feelings to authorities or others, 63% feared negative judgmental reactions, and 48% feared they would be treated unethically by therapists. Minor-attracted people learn that they must remain in hiding. This does not protect children.

In short, negative stereotypes and reliance on law-enforcement approaches by mental health professionals intensify stigma, causing serious negative consequences. The very same issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter also contained an article on this topic: The Evolving Understanding of Stigma. The article noted that “the constant background noise of stereotyped or inaccurate information contributes to the persistent stigma about mental illness...stigma is important because it contributes to delays in seeking treatment for mental health disorders and problems in accessing care.” In B4U-ACT's survey, 40% of respondents said at some point they had wanted services to deal with issues related to their sexuality, but never received them due to fear or stigma. In addition, 27% said they wanted services for other reasons but did not seek them because they could not be honest with a therapist about their sexuality. Sixteen percent also said they had received such services, but these services were inadequate for the same reason.

Adolescents and young adults just realizing they are attracted to minors are especially vulnerable to stigma. Feelings of hopelessness can lead them to depression, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts. Some of the volunteers at B4U-ACT have experienced this in their youth. Others have been contacted by youth who abused alcohol, engaged in self-harming behavior, or were suicidal due to the stigma of their attraction to children. In the B4U-ACT survey, 44% of respondents had thought seriously about suicide due to their sexuality; the most common age for such thoughts was 16.

Inaccurate stereotypes lead to dehumanization. As the stigma article notes, “people who are stigmatized experience social death when others in society hold attitudes and behave in ways to turn the stigmatized person into an 'other,' or a non-person...This leads to dehumanizing treatment, such as making psychiatric patients in China wear outfits like those of prisoners, [or] prohibiting them from participating in family gatherings...If stigma is primarily psychological, then eradicating it may involve psychotherapy to help patients boost self-esteem. If it is more of a social construct, the way to fight it is through awareness campaigns to change public opinion and policies. And if stigma is a moral issue, then it may be necessary to advocate for basic human rights.”

We urge mental health professionals to reject pessimistic responses and to join in a hopeful effort both to protect children and to promote the well-being of people who are attracted to minors. Such an effort would involve reducing stigma, conducting non-forensic research on pedophilia and hebephilia, making accurate information available to professionals, the public, and minor-attracted people, and providing visible therapeutic services to minor-attracted people.

Sincerely,

Russell Dick, LCSW-C, Chair, Board of Directors, B4U-ACT, Inc.
Richard Kramer Director of Operations, B4U-ACT, Inc.
Tom Scott, MSW, LCSW-C Executive Director of Clinical Services, National Center on Institutions and Alternatives
Kevin J. McCamant, Ph.D. Private Practitioner, Clinical and Forensic Psychology, Sex Offender Treatment Provider
Wayne Bowers, President of the Board, Sex Abuse Treatment Alliance
Eric Anderson, Sociologist and Professor, University of Winchester, U.K.
Lee Beckstead, PhD, Private practitioner
Marjorie Diehl, ACSW
Amy Craig-Van Grack, LCSW-C

References

Blanchard, R. (2009), Paraphilia scales from Kurt Freund's Erotic Preferences Examination Scheme

Li, C.K. (1990b), Some case studies of adult sexual experiences with children. Journal of Homosexuality, 20 (1-2), 129-144.

Okami, P. & Goldberg, A. (1992), Personality correlates of pedophilia: Are they reliable indicators? Journal of Sex Research, 29, 297-328.

Sandfort, T. (1987), Boys on their contacts with men: A study of sexually expressed friendships. New York: Global Academic Publishers.

Wilson, G. & Cox, D. (1983), The Child-Lovers: A Study of Paedophiles in Society. London: Peter Owen Publishers.

Yep, b4uact is the best option available right now and any support you can lend them is probably a good thing. They're kinda a small-time act, but they're working one of the only available angles within the current system. There's always a lotta talk about let's all get together and do this or that, but we're all from different places and few of us are willing to compromise our anonymity (with good reason) so this is the best we got.

Borgesius wrote:They're kinda a small-time act, but they're working one of the only available angles within the current system.

While "kinda small time" is probably an accurate description, they have had en effect well beyond their size. Five workshops have been held since 2008 bringing together mental health professionals and minor-attracted people; last year they participated in a conference call with members of the Paraphilias Subworkgroup of the Committee to Revise the DSM of the American Psychiatric Association; and in August, they are holding a symposium on Pedophilia and the DSM. Anyone interested in more information, including about attending the Symposium, should visit B4U-ACT.

Thanks for the plug. Please support us and get involved.