Normalizing the “last taboo,” pedophilia — sex between adults and children — is the goal of a conference in Balitmore, according to\u00a0critics.<\/p>\n
“Researchers from several prominent U.S. universities will participate in a Baltimore conference reportedly aiming to normalize pedophilia,” \u00a0writes Jeremy Kryn for LifeSiteNews. “According to the sponsoring organization\u2019s website, the event will examine ways in which ‘minor-attracted persons’ can be involved in a revision of the American Psychological Association (APA) classification of pedophilia.”<\/p>\n
The group is called B4U-ACT and is “a group of pro-pedophile activists and mental health professionals,” writes Kryn.<\/p>\n
The group\u00a0is behind the August 17 conference, which will include panelists from Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Louisville, and the University of Illinois, according to Kryn:<\/p>\n
B4U-ACT science director Howard Kline has criticized the definition of pedophilia by the American Psychological Association, describing its treatment of \u201cminor-attracted persons\u201d as \u201cinaccurate\u201d and \u201cmisleading.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is based on data from prison studies, which completely ignore the existence of those who are law-abiding,\u201d Kline said in a July 25 press release. \u201cThe proposed new diagnostic criteria specify ages and frequencies with no scientific basis whatsoever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Diagnostic and Statistical of Mental Disorders (DSM) should meet a higher standard than that,\u201d he added. \u201cWe can help them, because we are the people they are writing about.\u201d<\/p>\n
On their website B4U-ACT classifies pedophilia as simply another sexual orientation and decries the \u201cstigma\u201d attached to pedophilia, observing: \u201cNo one chooses to be emotionally and sexually attracted to children or adolescents. The cause is unknown; in fact, the development of attraction to adults is not understood.\u201d The group says that it does not advocate treatment to change feelings of attraction to children or adolescents.<\/p>\n
In their press release B4U-ACT announced a letter the group has sent to the APA criticizing its classification of the mental illness.<\/p>\n
University Visiting Professor of Law Judith Reisman, an expert on sexual ethics and pornography, criticized the Baltimore conference, saying, \u201cThis has been on the agenda for decades.\u201d<\/p>\n