Jackie Hill Perry, who shares her journey from lesbian to Christian poet, writer, and hip-hop artist in her book “Gay Girl Good God,” recently retweeted a TED Talk speaker who normalizes pedophilia.
Perry’s thread started Tuesday when she posted a tweet by Ian Miles Cheong, who wrote, “This is apparently mainstream now. Hosted by TED Talks.” He then pulled out a quote from a presenter. “Pedophilia is an unchangeable sexual orientation.”
This is apparently mainstream now. Hosted by TED Talks.“Pedophilia is an unchangeable sexual orientation.”
It was only a matter of time before their true colors were revealed. pic.twitter.com/QVd6Lh2O8o
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 22, 2019
“We should accept that pedophilia is a sexual preference that people do not choose.”I knew this was coming… https://t.co/zKAf90t86i
— Jackie Hill Perry (@JackieHillPerry) June 26, 2019
The tweet included a link to a May 2018 presentation by Mirjam Heine, a medical student at University of Würzburg in Germany.
Perry’s retweet simply said:
“‘We should accept that pedophilia is a sexual preference that people do not choose.’ I knew this was coming…”
Perry’s tweet comes the same month as the release of a startling new report from the United Kingdom recommending pedophiles should be diverted to “workshops” instead of facing prosecution for viewing child pornography, according to LifeSiteNews.
According to that report, the “deferred prosecution” program would be “just as effective as a post-conviction sentence, if not more, without the need to use court and prosecution resources.”
Meanwhile, in her TED Talk, Heine likened pedophilia to heterosexuality.
“According to current research pedophilia is an unchangeable sexual orientation just like for example heterosexuality,” she said. “No one chooses to be a pedophile. No one can cease being one. The difference between pedophilia and other sexual orientations is that living out this sexual orientation will end in a disaster.”
She then focused on the issue of feelings, encouraging her audience to change how they feel about pedophiles.
“Right now most of us feel discomfort when we think about the scenario and most of us feel discomfort when we think about pedophiles,” she continued. “But just like pedophiles, we are not responsible for our feelings. We do not choose them. But we are responsible for our actions and we must make a decision. It is in our responsibility to reflect and to overcome our negative feelings about pedophiles and to treat them with the same respect we treat other people with.
“We should accept that pedophiles are people who have not chosen their sexuality and who unlike most of us will never be able to live it out freely if they want to lead an upright life.”
The concept of normalizing pedophilia seemed to strike a nerve among Perry’s followers.
“Normalizing sin & desensitizing our young people to it is characteristic of our world today. Only those with twisted thinking & twisted theology would agree w/her position,” Annie McGuire (@dailyhisdisc) tweeted.
Normalizing sin & desensitizing our young people to it is characteristic of our world today. Only those with twisted thinking & twisted theology would agree w/her position.
— Annie McGuire (@dailyhisdisc) June 26, 2019
That comment brought a response from Erica (@reallyerica), about the orthodox view on sin:
As far as theology goes, it’s the position of Orthodox Christianity that humans are born with a sin nature. From this perspective, sin is already *beyond* normalization–it is the universal state of humanity. So, you can stop worrying about the cultural “normalization of sin”.
— Erica (@reallyerica) June 26, 2019
“As far as theology goes, it’s the position of Orthodox Christianity that humans are born with a sin nature. From this perspective, sin is already *beyond* normalization–it is the universal state of humanity. So, you can stop worrying about the cultural “normalization of sin”.
Erica later added, “Because, the perspective being shared by this speaker is that we would do well to recognize the reality that some people—through no act of choice—struggle with this particular thing. And, by seeing it this way, we can more effectively help them to not act upon it.”
Collen Pollin (@BriceCollin) responded to Perry, suggesting the need for a softened approach.
“I hurt for those who are reading these replies to your tweet that struggle with pedophilia. The speaker in this video is right—they need a safe place to process, confront, and deal with the cards they were given. not repress their sexual desire in secret and darkness.”
I hurt for those who are reading these replies to your tweet that struggle with pedophilia. The speaker in this video is right – they need a safe place to process, confront, and deal with the cards they were given. not repress their sexual desire in secret and darkness.
— Collin Pollen (@BriceCollin) June 26, 2019
Danielle Carlson (@DanielleCarls0n) took the conversation back to Scripture.
“Jesus said if you lust after a woman in your heart you have committed adultery. I think the same concept applies to pedophiles and pedophilia. Just because it’s a thought, a feeling and a preference doesn’t make it right. You still need help.”
Jesus said if you lust after a woman in your heart you have committed adultery. I think the same concept applies to pedophiles and pedophilia. Just because it’s a thought, a feeling and a preference doesn’t make it right. You still need help.
— Danielle Carlson (@DanielleCarls0n) June 26, 2019
Photo Courtesy: Getty Images
