In Brief: Listening to other sexual minorities
‘Since he was a child Ashford has always had a deep attraction to young girls but never acted on his urges or knew they had a name. It wasn’t until five years ago, at the age of 30, that Asford realised why his brief marriage and his countless flings across the United States and Europe always ended the same. Ashford is a pedophile … “I am tired of being forced into the shadows by society. I have committed no crime, therefore there is no good reason that I should have to hide myself. As long as pedophiles continue to hide, there is no chance of them ever being accepted” … Ashford, 35, … is part of a pioneering group of pedophiles from around the world who also believe pedophilia is not a sexual disorder that can be cured by medication and psychotherapy. He believes, rather, that it is a sexual orientation with which he was born, and therefore, cannot deny … Pedophilia “has all the same characteristics as homosexuality, transvestism, fetishism, etc.”, said Dan Markussen, spokesman for the 100-member association [the Danish Pedophile Association], which was founded in 1985. “Sexual orientation is defined as a lifelong attraction, which pedophilia obviously is.”‘   Â
The above comes from Russ Flanagan’s article, ‘I’m tired of being forced into the shadows by society’, 22 February 2004, The Express-Times, which echoes what I read elsewhere on alternative sites. Moreover, the insistence both made that they were not child molesters echoes the claims of other pedophiles.  Russ finished his article with the grey life experiences of Ashford and Dan, with Dan acknowledging the threatening situations – ‘official harassment and persecution’ – which even law-abiding pedophiles must endure. Both ‘claim to be celibate pedophiles, which they say has led to a feeling of emptiness in their lives. “For a long time, I found a physical level of satisfaction by having relationships with adult women or with teenage girls over the age of consent,” said Asford, who claims to have twice tried to take his own life. But “emotional or spiritual satisfaction is not a possibility. The feeling of futility leaves me frequently sad and derperpressed.” Markussens’ tale is similar. “Most pedophiles lead a terrible life. … They can’t tell anybody about their feelings. They have to fake interest in adults. Many live in social isolation which leads to weirdness.”‘ Â
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