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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 Ashford realized why his brief marriage and his countless flings across the United States and Europe always ended the same. For most of his life, he has buried his emotions and masked his long-secreted attraction. He also believes it is time for a child rights movement that will give kids more say in how to live their lives. Ashford, 35, an unemployed business consultant, 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. This is a view shared by numerous pro-pedophilia groups around the world. In the United States, the most notorious may be the New York-based North American Man/Boy Love Association, or NAMBLA. According to its Web site, NAMBLA's goal is to end the "extreme oppression" of men and boys in mutually consensual relationships by educating the public on the "benevolent nature of man/boy love," and working to abolish age-of-consent laws. NAMBLA representatives did not return telephone messages left at their New York offices seeking comment, but the association's Web site is clear about its agenda. We support greater economic, political and social opportunities for young people and denounce the rampant ageism that segregates and isolates them in fear and mistrust," the Web site says. Like Ashford, it takes the position that pedophilia is not a sexual disorder, but an orientation that cannot be changed. It is especially touchy for homosexuals -- who were similarly maligned in the past -- because gay advocacy groups used the same argument to win segments of social acceptance over the past two decades. That, coupled with the notion of man/boy love, has caused gay rights groups to distance themselves from the pro-pedophilia movement to preserve their efforts for acceptance in the mainstream. There's no question about it," said Michael Young, the associate director of regional media for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD. While many may disagree with the pedophiles' claim that they are born with a taste for the young, a leading American doctor on the subject of pedophilia is willing to concede they are half-right. Frederick Berlin, founder of the Sexual Disorders Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. While he believes people who are sexually attracted to children should not feel ashamed of their condition, he also says they should not act on them. Battle continues to change perception Pedophiles need to understand that "children are not mini adults, they can be harmed by these activities," he said. Ashford said pedophiles see children as nothing more than children and are attracted by their innocence. I would argue that society sees them this way much more than I do. He said that while pedophiles and child molesters are often linked, they are in reality nothing alike. Despite public outrage, pedophiles will continue to press on through their intricate links of Web sites. Both Ashford, who has a daughter from his failed marriage, and Markussen claim to be celibate pedophiles, which they say has led to a feeling of emptiness in their lives. But "emotional or spiritual satisfaction is not a possibility. Ashford said that because he has broken no laws, he does not fear retaliation from law enforcement for his beliefs. I believe that there is a greater danger from vigilante activity than from law enforcement.
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