Professor Placed On Leave For Saying ‘Sexual Attraction To Children Isn’t Always Immoral’
A trans college professor has been placed on leave after trying to destigmatize pedophiles.
Allyn Walker, who is transgender teaches sociology and criminal justice at Old Dominion University in Virginia. Walker has released a book called Long Dark Shadow: Minor-Attracted People and Their Pursuit of Dignity, where Walker writes about how pedophiles can’t help being attracted to children.
“A lot of people when they hear the term ‘pedophile’, and they automatically assume that it means a sex offender, and that isn’t true,” Walker says. “And it leads to a lot of misconceptions about attractions toward minors.”
“From my perspective, there is no morality or immorality attached to attraction to anyone because no one can control who they’re attracted to at all. In other words, it’s not who we’re attracted to that’s either OK or not OK. It’s our behaviors in responding to that attraction that are either OK or not OK.”
However, thousands were not here for Walker’s ideas and signed a petition to have them removed from the university.
“I want to be clear: child sexual abuse is an inexcusable crime,” Walker added. “As an assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice, the goal of my research is to prevent crime.”
In a statement on Tuesday, the school revealed that it had placed Walker on administrative leave.
“Reactions to Dr. Walker’s research and book have led to concerns for their safety and that of the campus. Furthermore, the controversy over Dr. Walker’s research has disrupted the campus and community environment and is interfering with the institution’s mission of teaching and learning,” it read.