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{{AfDM|page=Minor-attracted person (2nd nomination)|year=2023|month=May|day=11|substed=yes|origtag=afdx|help=off}}
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{{Multiple issues|
{{Original research|date=May 2023}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=May 2023}}
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{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Term covering minor-related chronophilias}}
{{About|an [[umbrella term]]|the psychiatric disorder|pedophilia}}
{{Wiktionary|minor-attracted person|MAP|NOMAP}}
'''Minor-attracted person''' (abbreviated to '''MAP''') is an [[umbrella term]] that covers a range of minor-related [[chronophilia]]s,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lievesley |first1=Rebecca |last2=Lapworth |first2=Rhia |date=2022 |title="We Do Exist": The Experiences of Women Living with a Sexual Interest in Minors |journal=[[Archives of Sexual Behavior]] |language=en |volume=51 |issue=2 |pages=879–896 |doi=10.1007/s10508-021-02160-z |issn=0004-0002 |pmc=8888496 |pmid=34791582}}</ref> including [[pedophilia]] and [[hebephilia]].<ref name="saraj">{{Cite journal |last1=Jahnke |first1=Sara |last2=Blagden |first2=Nicholas |last3=Hill |first3=Laura |date=2022 |title=Pedophile, Child Lover, or Minor-Attracted Person? Attitudes Toward Labels Among People Who are Sexually Attracted to Children |journal=[[Archives of Sexual Behavior]] |language=en |volume=51 |issue=8 |pages=4125–4139 |doi=10.1007/s10508-022-02331-6 |issn=0004-0002 |pmc=9663395 |pmid=36175817}}</ref><ref name="aaa">{{Cite journal |last1=Lievesley |first1=Rebecca |last2=Swaby |first2=Helen |last3=Harper |first3=Craig A. |last4=Woodward |first4=Ellie |date=2022 |title=Primary Health Professionals' Beliefs, Experiences, and Willingness to Treat Minor-Attracted Persons |journal=[[Archives of Sexual Behavior]] |language=en |volume=51 |issue=2 |pages=923–943 |doi=10.1007/s10508-021-02271-7 |issn=0004-0002 |pmc=8793822 |pmid=35084616}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Raymond |first=Shane |date=2023-01-19 |title=FactCheck: The European Commission doesn't use the term 'minor-attracted person' instead of 'paedophile' |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/does-the-eu-used-the-term-minor-attracted-person-instead-of-paedophile-5971313-Jan2023/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[TheJournal.ie]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Cohen |first1=Lisa J. |last2=Wilman-Depena |first2=Sherilyn |last3=Barzilay |first3=Shira |last4=Hawes |first4=Mariah |last5=Yaseen |first5=Zimri |last6=Galynker |first6=Igor |date=2020 |title=Correlates of Chronic Suicidal Ideation Among Community-Based Minor-Attracted Persons |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1079063219825868 |journal=[[Sexual Abuse (journal)|Sexual Abuse]] |language=en |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=273–300 |doi=10.1177/1079063219825868 |pmid=30678527 |s2cid=59250990 |issn=1079-0632}}</ref> The inclusion of [[ephebophilia]] under this category is controversial among some academics.<ref name="aaa" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Walker |first=Allyn |date=2020-10-14 |title="I'm Not like That, So Am I Gay?" The Use of Queer-Spectrum Identity Labels Among Minor-Attracted People |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00918369.2019.1613856 |journal=[[Journal of Homosexuality]] |language=en |volume=67 |issue=12 |pages=1736–1759 |doi=10.1080/00918369.2019.1613856 |pmid=31124744 |s2cid=163166318 |issn=0091-8369}}</ref>

This term, as well as its variants,{{NoteTag|Variants of the term minor-attracted person include ''minor-attracted adult'' and ''minor-attracted man'', among others.<ref name="saraj" />}} has been used in some scientific publications as a replacement for the words "pedophile" and "hebephile", as well as a catch-all for any group of people who feel sexually attracted to minors under the age of 17.<ref name="saraj" /> Further reasons for its usage include the lesser amount of negative connotation attached to it compared to other similar terms,<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Walker |first1=Allyn |last2=Butters |first2=Robert P. |last3=Nichols |first3=Erin |date=2022 |title="I Would Report It Even If They Have Not Committed Anything": Social Service Students' Attitudes Toward Minor-Attracted People |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1079063221993480 |journal=[[Sexual Abuse (journal)|Sexual Abuse]] |language=en |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=52–77 |doi=10.1177/1079063221993480 |pmid=33586525 |s2cid=231925738 |issn=1079-0632}}</ref> as well as the need of some mental health professionals and researchers to address persons who are attracted to minors in a way that does not imply that they have committed a sexual offense.<ref name="saraj" /><ref name=":1" />

''Minor-attracted person'' has been used by some [[academics]],<ref name="saraj" /><ref name=":03">{{Cite web |date=2019-07-09 |title=A flag for pedophiles? It exists, but it is not a push for inclusion in the LGBT community |url=https://factcheck.afp.com/pride-flag-pedophiles-someone-created-one-no-one-waves-it |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[Agence France-Presse]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> psychiatrists,<ref name=":1" /> anti-[[child sexual abuse]] organizations<ref name=":03"/><ref name=":2" /> and online communities for people who are sexually attracted to minors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-09 |title=A flag for pedophiles? It exists, but it is not a push for inclusion in the LGBT community |url=https://factcheck.afp.com/pride-flag-pedophiles-someone-created-one-no-one-waves-it |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=Fact Check |language=en}}</ref> This term has rarely been used in popular discourse.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Jara |first1=Giovanna A. |last2=Jeglic |first2=Elizabeth |date=2021-09-02 |title=Changing public attitudes toward minor attracted persons: an evaluation of an anti-stigma intervention |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13552600.2020.1863486 |journal=[[Journal of Sexual Aggression]] |language=en |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=299–312 |doi=10.1080/13552600.2020.1863486 |s2cid=233890607 |issn=1355-2600}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

The usage of ''minor-attracted person'' has been the cause of multiple online commotions<ref name=":03" /><ref name=":1" /> and [[LGBT grooming conspiracy theory|anti-LGBT hoaxes]].<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> In 2018 and 2019, several news outlets and social media posts falsely claimed that a flag attached to this label was associated with a supposed "rebranding" and inclusion of pedophiles into the [[LGBT community]].<ref name=":03"/><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Squirrell |first=Aoife Gallagher & Tim |date=2023-04-06 |title=Analysis: Don't fall for the 'groomer' slur - it's an old trick used to stir hatred of LGBTQ+ people |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/lgbtq-issues-in-ireland-6038700-Apr2023/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=[[TheJournal.ie]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Suen |first=Brennan |title=How the hoax that the LGBTQ community is embracing pedophiles went viral |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/4chan/how-hoax-lgbtq-community-embracing-pedophiles-went-viral |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=[[Media Matters for America]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Etymology and usage ==
The term ''minor-attracted person'' was adopted by the mental health nonprofit B4U-ACT in 2007.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sorrentino |first=Renée |date=2021-07-01 |title=Minor-attracted persons: A neglected population |url=https://www.mdedge.com/psychiatry/article/242357/minor-attracted-persons-neglected-population |journal=Current Psychiatry |volume=20 |issue=7 |doi=10.12788/cp.0149|s2cid=246886997 }}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2022-08-11 |title=Preply Survey: Americans Mixed on term "Minor-Attracted Persons" - B4U-ACT |url=https://www.b4uact.org/news-language-survey/ |archive-url=https://archive.is/cMbal |archive-date=2023 |access-date=2023-05-05 |language=en-US}}</ref> It was derived from the term ''minor-attracted adult'', which in turn was first used by Heather Peterson, an independent journalist covering [[Interfaith dialogue|interfaith]] issues, in a 1998 article.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Appel |first=Jacob M. |date=2022-08-02 |title=Unconventional harm reduction interventions for Minor-attracted persons |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14777509221117981 |journal=[[Clinical Ethics]] |language=en |pages=21–27 |doi=10.1177/14777509221117981 |s2cid=251300608 |issn=1477-7509}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Elizabeth Peterson |first=Heather |date=Dec 1998 |title="Not an Oxymoron" |url=http://www.greenbelt.com/news/98/12/02.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000920050814/http://www.greenbelt.com/news/98/12/02.htm |archive-date=2000 |website=Greenbelt Interfaith News}}</ref><ref name=":5" />

=== Variants ===
Variants of the term ''minor-attracted person'' include ''minor-attracted adult'' and ''minor-attracted man''. The rarer usage of ''youth-attracted person'' has also been observed among research subjects,<ref name="saraj" /> and has been controversial.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Casiano |first=Louis |date=2023-04-26 |title=Twitter suspended user who revealed pedophile flag has account suspended |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/twitter-suspended-user-revealed-pedophile-203838369.html |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=[[Yahoo! Finance]] |language=en}}</ref>

The label ''non-offending minor-attracted person'' (abbreviated to [[wikt:NOMAP|NOMAP]]) has been used to refer to people who are attracted to minors, but are committed not to engage in criminal actions.<ref name=":03"/><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stevens |first1=Eleanor |last2=Wood |first2=Jane |date=2019-11-17 |title="I Despise Myself for Thinking about Them." A Thematic Analysis of the Mental Health Implications and Employed Coping Mechanisms of Self-Reported Non-Offending Minor Attracted Persons |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10538712.2019.1657539 |journal=[[Journal of Child Sexual Abuse]] |language=en |volume=28 |issue=8 |pages=968–989 |doi=10.1080/10538712.2019.1657539 |pmid=31509097 |s2cid=202556784 |issn=1053-8712}}</ref> Some social media users have used the label ''anti-contact'' ''(non-offending)'' ''minor-attracted person'' (abbreviated to ACNOMAP) to denote that they oppose the idea of adult-minor sexual contact. Other users have labeled themselves as ''pro-contact'' or ''pro-choice'' to denote the opposite.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Dodds |first=Io |date=2020-01-09 |title=Twitter accused of aiding child abuse by allowing 'explosion' of online paedophile communities |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/01/09/twitter-accused-aiding-child-abuse-allowing-explosion-online/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Walker |first=Allyn |author-link= |date=June 2021 |title=A Long Dark Shadow |url=https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520306363/a-long-dark-shadow |location= |publisher=University of California Press |page= |isbn=}}</ref>

''Minor-attracted person'' has a been used as a less stigmatizing replacement term for the words "pedophile" and "hebephile".<ref name="saraj" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Parr |first1=Jennifer |last2=Pearson |first2=Dominic |date=2019-11-17 |title=Non-Offending Minor-Attracted Persons: Professional Practitioners' Views on the Barriers to Seeking and Receiving Their Help |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10538712.2019.1663970 |journal=[[Journal of Child Sexual Abuse]] |language=en |volume=28 |issue=8 |pages=945–967 |doi=10.1080/10538712.2019.1663970 |pmid=31525147 |s2cid=202641546 |issn=1053-8712}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> According to Richard Kramer, this is a term that empathises attraction rather than behavior.<ref name=":3" />

Counting from the first year that the term was used in academia, ''minor-attracted person'' and its variants have been used in 21 academic articles from 2017 to 2021. Researchers have used this term sometimes as a substitute for "pedophilia" and "hebephilia", and other times as an umbrella term for all groups of people who are sexually attracted to minors under the age of 17, including those at late-puberty and post-puberty. Common themes in those articles included the stigma surrounding sexual attractions to minors and obstacles to help-seeking behaviors among pedophiles, as well as child sexual abuse prevention.<ref name="saraj" />

=== Usage among persons sexually attracted to minors ===
People who are sexually attracted to minors have used the label ''minor-attracted person'' to describe themselves on both online forums (such as [[Virtuous Pedophiles]])<ref name="saraj" /> and social media websites (such as [[Tumblr]] and Twitter).<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":03"/>

In two studies conducted to samples of persons sexually attracted to minors to evaluate their label preferences, one from 2013 and another from 2020, some participants used the term ''minor-attracted person'' to refer to themselves, which they described as an improvement over the term ''pedophile''. Participants of the latter study often found ''minor-attracted person'' less stigmatizing, but also more vague and "clunky".<ref name="saraj" />

In another 2020 study where 306 participants recruited from online communities for people who are sexually attracted to minors were told to choose one or more preferred labels to describe themselves, the majority selected "child lover" (52%), followed by "pedophiles" (51%) and "minor-attracted persons" (40%). <!-- This 2022 research is the main research of the reference at the end of this paragraph. The use of a scientific paper as a primary source in this instance is acceptable per WP's policies. -->A 2022 study conducted among members of pedohebephilic support groups (such as [[Virtuous Pedophiles]], among others) found that 34% of participants labeled themselves as minor-attracted persons or variants.<ref name="saraj" />

On social media, the term ''minor-attracted person'' has been used by people who are sexually attracted to minors but have chosen not to commit sexual offenses. This label has also been used by [[Troll (slang)|internet trolls]] posing as self-described MAPs. B4U-ACT co-founder Russell Dick told the [[Agence France-Presse]] that online trolls have "posed as MAPs" in order to paint a negative picture of legitimate persons who do identify with the label.<ref name=":03"/>

=== Usage among other groups ===
''Minor-attracted person'' has been used by some anti-child sexual abuse organizations, such as the Global Prevention Project, and mental health nonprofits such as B4U-ACT. Due to past criticism, the former stated on their website that "to reiterate, this is not a term we invented, NOR is it a term used to rebrand pedophiles OR link them to the LGBTQ community” [sic].<ref name=":03"/>

Some [[psychiatrist]]s have used the label ''minor-attracted person'' to distinguish between persons who are sexually attracted to minors but have not commited a sexual offense and convicted or suspected child sexual abusers.<ref name=":1" />

== Reception ==<!--Reliable sources have only covered right-wing critiques of the usage of this term. Do no mark this section with any WP:UNDUE tag (if you are invested in this article, try to improve it yourself instead of just asking others), there is nothing that can be done about that.-->
The usage of the term ''minor-attracted person'' was criticized by [[Sunday Independent (Ireland)|''Sunday Independent'']] columnist and professor emeritus of psychiatry at the [[UCD School of Medicine]] [[Patricia Casey]] as an attempt to rename pedophiles and normalize pedophilia. In the article, she falsely accused the [[European Commission]] of using this term.<ref name=":1" />

In a 2021 episode of [[Tucker Carlson Tonight]], [[Tucker Carlson]] criticized a university assistant-professor for using the term ''minor-attracted person''. The segment's headline was titled "The Left's Depraved New Low".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=Professor who wrote about adults attracted to minors resigns |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/norfolk-old-dominion-university-tucker-carlson-virginia-people-b1963938.html |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carlson |first=Tucker |date=2022-09-19 |title=Tucker Carlson: Only a society that hates children would allow this |url=https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-society-hates-children-would-allow-this |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=[[Fox News]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Former Democratic House Representative [[Tulsi Gabbard]], in her speech at the [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] (CPAC) 2023, stated that the [[Biden Administration]] was “trying to tell us paedophilia is normal because minor-attracted people are acceptable”.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-04 |title=The eight most bizarre lines from CPAC 2023 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/cpac-2023-donald-trump-b2294300.html |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Lauren Boebert]], while sharing a [[Libs of TikTok]] video clip where a former assistant-professor from the [[Old Dominion University]] used the term ''minor-attracted person'', stated that "every person who uses the term MAP needs to be ostracized from civil society".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Logue |first=Derek W. |date=2022-10-26 |title=How 'Cancel Culture' Stifles Efforts to Combat Child Sexual Abuse |url=https://thecrimereport.org/2022/10/26/how-cancel-culture-stifles-efforts-to-combat-child-sexual-abuse/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=The Crime Report |language=en-US}}</ref>

A 2022 survey conducted by [[Preply]] reported that 45% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans felt annoyed by this term.<ref name=":5" /> In that same year, the previous usage of minor-attracted person by [[Jacob Breslow]] at a 2011 mental health symposium, as well as its usage by two American educators and a sex therapist caused multiple social media controversies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Andrew |date=2022-07-11 |title=Licensed Pennsylvania sex therapist defends 'minor-attracted persons' in viral video |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/licensed-pennsylvania-sex-therapist-defends-minor-attracted-persons-viral-video |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=[[Fox News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Allsharif |first=Mirna |date=2022-09-10 |title=Texas teacher on administrative leave after telling students to call pedophiles 'minor attracted persons' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-teacher-administrative-leave-telling-students-call-pedophiles-mi-rcna47064 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=[[NBC News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Jon |date=2022-10-06 |title=Trustee of transgender kids' charity resigns after unearthed speech to group for 'minor-attracted persons' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/trustee-transgender-kids-charity-resigns-unearthed-speech-group-minor-attracted-persons |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=[[Fox News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-04 |title=Mermaids trustee quits over paedophile-group links |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63137873 |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=[[BBC News]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Controversies ==

=== 2021 Old Dominion University controversy ===
In November 2021, then-assistant professor at [[Old Dominion University]] (ODU) [[Allyn Walker]] used the term ''minor-attracted person'' in an interview with a child protection organization. A short clip of the interview was shared by [[Libs of TikTok]] on Twitter with the description "they are coming for your kids". The clip went viral on social media and caused a public [[Change.org]] petition for ODU's administration to remove Walker from office.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-03 |title=Professor placed on leave after saying paedophiles should be destigmatised |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/allyn-walker-professor-paedophile-virginia-b1960427.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Roderick |date=2023-01-03 |title=LibsofTikTok's Interviews Prove She's Not Unbiased. She's Generating Hate |url=https://www.newsweek.com/libsoftiktoks-interviews-prove-shes-not-unbiased-shes-generating-anti-lgbtq-hate-opinion-1771049 |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[Newsweek]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="odu" /> After violent threats were made against Walker and the university campus, Walker was placed on [[administrative leave]]. In a joint media statement published by Old Dominion University president [[Brian Hemphill]], the institution said that "decisions were made to protect the life and safety of faculty members and others on campus and beyond".<ref name="odu">{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Brendan |date=2021-11-25 |title=Who is Allyn Walker? ODU Professor Quits After Pedophilia Remarks Spark Backlash |url=https://www.newsweek.com/allyn-walker-virginia-old-dominion-university-pedophilia-minor-attracted-1653340 |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[Newsweek]] |language=en}}</ref>

During the controversy, a public letter signed by over 60 professors of fields related to sexual abuse was issued in support of Walker's scholarship.<ref name="odu" /> Another letter was issued by ODU's American Association of University Professors (AAUP), in which the association stated that "we lament the loss of our dear colleague and call for explicit and immediate improvements in communication, due process, and protections of academic freedom by the administration leading Old Dominion University."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-03 |title=ODU chapter of national organization publishes letter sharing concern of professor stepping down over controversial interview |url=https://www.wtkr.com/news/national-organization-publishes-letter-sharing-concern-of-odu-professor-stepping-down-over-controversial-interview |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[WTKR]] |language=en}}</ref>

{{Cquote
| quote = "The public backlash reflects a misunderstanding and mischaracterization of Walker's research. (...) We urge you to consider the dire ramifications [of removing a professor from their office] for academic freedom."
| author = Public letter to [[Old Dominion University|ODU]]'s administration signed by over 60 researchers.<ref  name="odu"/>
}}

In May 2022, Walker was hired as a [[Postdoctoral researcher|postdoctoral fellow]] at [[Johns Hopkins University]]'s Moore Center for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Emma |date=2022-05-13 |title=Abuse Center Explains Allyn Walker Hiring After Pedophilia Comments Fallout |url=https://www.newsweek.com/abuse-center-explains-allyn-walker-hiring-after-pedophilia-comments-fallout-1706533 |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref>

=== 2022 Police Scotland controversy ===
In mid-2022, two [[Police Scotland]] annual reports used the term,<ref name="fullfactpolicescotland">{{cite web |title=Police Scotland says it hasn’t renamed paedophiles as ‘minor attracted people’ |url=https://fullfact.org/online/police-scotland-not-renamed/ |website=Full Fact |access-date=12 May 2023 |language=en |date=31 January 2023}}</ref> while referencing a proposal for a project funded by the [[Horizon Europe]] EU funding initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-01 |title=Police Scotland denies officially labelling paedophiles 'minor-attracted people' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-scotland-paedophiles-minor-attracted-people-b2254110.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref> Their use of the term was condemned by several politicians, who called it a "watering down", or said the term risked normalizing pedophilia.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dearden |first1=Lizzie |title=Police Scotland denies officially labelling paedophiles ‘minor-attracted people’ |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-scotland-paedophiles-minor-attracted-people-b2254110.html |website=The Independent |access-date=12 May 2023 |language=en |date=1 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Simon |title=Fury as Police Scotland describes paedophiles as ‘minor-attracted people’ |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/12/30/scottish-police-call-paedophiles-minor-attracted-people-major/ |website=The Telegraph |access-date=12 May 2023 |date=31 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Furtado |first1=Annet Preethi |title=False: Police Scotland has renamed pedophiles 'Minor-Attracted People.' |url=https://www.logically.ai/factchecks/library/34d261b7 |website=Logically |access-date=12 May 2023 |language=en-gb}}</ref> Some falsely claimed that the [[European Commission]] had officially adopted the term, though the Commission is not responsible for the language used in EU project proposals.<ref name=":1" /> In September 2022, Police Scotland successfully lobbied for the term to be removed from the project proposal, and told media outlets that "the term was entirely unacceptable in describing someone either involved in sexual offending against children or who has indecent thoughts towards them".<ref name="fullfactpolicescotland"/>

=== False associations between ''minor-attracted people'' and LGBT pride ===
[[File:Tumblr_user_who_created_the_map_flag_2018_(cropped).jpg|thumb|260x260px|Social media post where the flag was first published.]]{{See also|LGBT grooming conspiracy theory}}
On June 13, 2018, an anonymous [[Tumblr]] social media user published the artwork of a flag for people who labeled themselves as ''non-offending minor-attracted persons''. Further on, the flag was also used by some [[Twitter]] users who also identified with the label. Despite false social media claims that followed the publication of this icon, there is no evidence that this flag was created as a campaign to normalize pedophilia or include it under the [[LGBT]] umbrella. Furthermore, it has not been verified whether its author was a legitimate user of the label ''minor-attracted person'' or an [[internet troll]].<ref name=":03"/>

After the flag was published, multiple anti-pedophile social media call-out posts about the MAP flag were made in the [[Pride Month|pride months]] (June) of 2018 and 2019. Further on, many news websites, such as [[The Daily Caller]] and [[LifeSiteNews]] published multiple articles falsely claiming that pedophiles were attempting to be included into the [[LGBT community]]. According to social media monitoring tool [[CrowdTangle]], those articles were shared over 20,000 times on Facebook.<ref name=":03" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Evon |first=Dan |date=2018-08-01 |title=Was a 'Pedophiles Are People Too' Notice Posted Near an Oregon School? |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/pedophile-poster-oregon/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=[[Snopes]] |language=en}}</ref>

Aside from the false claims that were spread online regarding this flag and its supposed connection to LGBT pride, multiple other social media campaigns were also made as an attempt to promote the unfounded theory that the LGBT community was attempting to normalize and legitimize pedophilia.<ref name=":0" />

== See also ==

* {{annotated link|Chronophilia}}
* {{annotated link|Pedophilia}}
* {{annotated link|Hebephilia}}
* {{annotated link|Ephebophilia}}

== Endnotes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
<references />

== Further reading ==

* [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-022-02331-6 Pedophile, Child Lover, or Minor-Attracted Person? Attitudes Toward Labels Among People Who are Sexually Attracted to Children]. [[Archives of Sexual Behavior]], 2022. Free paper.
* [https://factcheck.afp.com/pride-flag-pedophiles-someone-created-one-no-one-waves-it A flag for pedophiles? It exists, but it is not a push for inclusion in the LGBT community]. [[Agence France-Presse]], 2019.
* [https://archive.is/j2ZsP Archive of the post where the MAP flag was created]. 2018.
* [https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2022/december/statement-regarding-use-of-term-minor-attracted-person/ Statement regarding use of term Minor-Attracted Person] [[Police Scotland]], 2022.
{{Pedophilia}}

[[Category:Additional materials]]
[[Category:English]]