I think you're being too ambitious. First of all, even pedophiles are divided as to whether they believe adult child sex is harmful. I personally believe it's not always, but often can be harmful. And I don't believe the harm comes only from society's reaction or any misconceptions. I believe kids becoming sexualized too early can and is harmful. I don't deny that even small children are sexual beings. However, their sexuality is nowhere near the same level as adults. So while experimentation with one's own age group is usually fine, experimentation with a much older person is not a good idea. So while the idea of being able to have not only a romantic, but also sexual relationship with a boy I love is quite appealing, I would nevertheless be strongly opposed to making it legal.

One area of change I would like to see but seriously doubt I will live to see it is that pedophiles be treated as human beings and not monsters. As I posted to Didaskalos, this would require that non-offending pedophiles out themselves to show the world they are not a danger to kids. But the first people who choose this course of action will suffer greatly. There's no telling how long it would take till people change their minds about us. And until they do, the outed pedophiles will have ruined lives and become a target for any whack job that wants to pretend he's a do-gooder. Also, if a significant number of those brave souls who voluntarily out themselves believe as you do, that adult child sex is ok, then people will never change their opinion of us. And with good reason. The vast majority of parents will NEVER believe that it would be ok for little johnny or little suzie to have sex with a 30 or 40 year old guy. So if you try to further the agenda that pedophiles are not only basically normal people, but they also should be allowed to have consensual sex with kids, you'll just be shooting yourself in the foot. It will be confirming parents' worst fears, that pedos want to sexualize their kids.

Don't you find it interesting that in this age of online networking and anonymity, where anyone can post anything they believe without fear of reprisal, that there aren't kids out there bemoaning the fact that they aren't allowed to have sex with older men? It's only us older men bemoaning that we can't have sex with kids. It's my belief that in the majority of man/boy relationships that become sexual, the main reason the boy consents is to please the man who he has come to love. I don't see boys looking for a man to mentor them with the idea in the back of his mind that it would be great to have sex with him. But if we are honest with ourselves, as boylovers and pedophiles, even if we are commited to keeping the relationship non-sexual, we still think about it. Physical and/or emotional pleasure is not a good enough reason to be sexual with a kid. Can anyone give me a single benefit for the child that couldn't be had with a loving non-sexual relationship?

Dakota