Our approach seems to be, go to the firs[t] forum we find and start yammering about legalizing sex with kids. That would put ANYONE off, even those who might otherwise be reasonable and tolerant of pedosexuals.

I'm "out" in RL, and a few of the writing groups I work with know that I'm a hebephile. Most people who know me IRL know this, also. With some people, the question of whether I think I should have the legal right to have relationships with youths come up...am I supposed to lie to them? Yes, I'm sure that is what you will tell me, Todd. The truth is, I am no more ashamed of my political views on the subject than I am of my attraction to teen girls. I don't automatically go yammering to legalize sex between adults and youths, though.

However, I'm also publicly known as a youth liberationist, and some of these groups, like ASFAR, are openly against the AoC laws as we currently know them. One of my friends lied to his wife and told her that the reason I don't break the laws is because, deep down I'm morally opposed to youths and adults having romantic relationships with each other and that I agree with the laws. I told HIM that I was NOT going to lie to her if she ever personally asked me (she doesn't like the fact that I'm a hebephile, but she tolerates me because I'm good friends with her husband...she trusts me around her daughter, but possibly only because her daughter is still a LG, not an AG).

I don't think legalizing intergeneratonal sexual activity is the FIRST thing we should talk about when we go public. But I don't believe, on the other hand, that we should lie about it if someone poses the question to us. And I know from personal experience that SOMETIMES the question will be posed.

Generally, after admitting I'm a hebephile, I make it clear that I DO NOT break the laws. I then give people the chance to ask me questions, and I will answer them honestly. People still tend to be my friends even after I admit my political views on the subject...I have never seen the need to lie about anything. If people are reasonable enough to accept our orientations for what they are, eventually they will come to accept our legal rights, too. But I, for one, have never advocated pushing the pro-choice agenda down anyone's throat, though I do think we should have offline orgs that advocate for it in a lawful manner.