State Watch

Virginia professor who studied sexual attraction to minors placed on leave

by Sarakshi Rai

A Virginia professor has been placed on administrative leave after advocating for the term “minor attracted people” in place of pedophile garnered wide-spread criticism.

Old Dominion University said in a statement on Tuesday that Walker’s book and academic research on adults attracted to minors “have led to concerns for their safety” and have caused wide-spread disruption, interfering with teaching and learning on campus.

“I want to state in the strongest terms possible that child sexual abuse is morally wrong and has no place in our society,” the university’s president, Brian O. Hemphill, said in the statement.
 

 
In an interview last month, Walker sparked controversy after stating that having an attraction to minors doesn’t mean the person is doing something wrong “as long as it isn’t acted on.” Walker has defended their research, saying that by getting people help before they act on their attraction, it will help protect minors. 
 
After the interview went viral, students organized protests on campus with messages promoting child safety and a message on the landmark Dominion Rock saying  “GET Allyn Walker OFF Campus,” The Washington Post reported.
 
Walker, who is transgender, told The Post that their research was “being misrepresented in right-wing media,” making it “unsafe to remain on campus.”
 
“The university’s decision to place me on administrative leave really acknowledges the gravity of the threats to me and other people on campus,” they said.
 
“The idea that I’m somehow condoning child sexual abuse is absolutely outrageous. I really think it’s a coordinated effort about attacking the LGBTQ community and academic freedom,” Walker told the Post.

A university spokeswoman confirmed to the Post that there had been death threats against Walker and their family members.

The threats were considered extremely serious by the university and they were provided with armed security while on campus, the spokesperson added. 

A Change.org petition titled “Remove Dr​.​ Allyn Walker (‘MAPS’ pedophilia activist) from Old Dominion University Staff” has received 10,550 signatures since it was launched last week.

Walker was discussing the book “A Long Dark Shadow: Minor-Attracted People and Their Pursuit of Dignity” in the interview with child protection organization Protasia Foundation.

“MAP [Minor Attracted People] refers to someone who has preferential attractions to minors, and that can include children who have gone through puberty or not. And child sexual abusers are people who have committed a sexual offense against a child,” Walker said. 

“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,” he added. 

The interview and subsequent comments went viral after it was shared online by the “Libs of TikTok” Twitter account.

The Hill has reached out to the Old Dominion University and Walker for comment.

State Watch