A problematic poster boy
by James Esses, Artillery Row:
Peter Tatchell, the well-known “LGBT” campaigner, has been used as the poster boy for the new Metropolitan Police initiative of “LGBT+ Community Liaison Officers”. Posting on Twitter, the Met announced that it “welcomes” Tatchell’s support for the scheme, which is set up to “build trust and confidence that will encourage more LGBT+ people to come forward to report sexual assaults”, amongst other crimes.
This new initiative was announced in response to campaigning undertaken by Tatchell. To choose Tatchell as the face of a campaign seeking to encourage reporting of sexual abuse is a strange choice, however, given that Tatchell himself has faced numerous accusations of excessive sympathy with adults who wish to have sex with children.
Tatchell hotly disputes such claims. Articles on his website often contain a header, which reads:
NOTE — My articles urging an age of consent of 14 are motivated solely by a desire to reduce the criminalisation of under-16s who have consenting relationships with other young people of similar ages. I do not support adults having sex with children … I hope this re-assures you.
Tatchell has often claimed that his statements regarding child sex have been grossly “misrepresented”. He has even crafted a “copy and paste” statement for use on Twitter, whenever an allegation against him emerges. It reads:
I oppose adults having sex with kids. My website petertatchell.net has said so for decades. I’ve helped child abuse victims fight for justice.
Read my ideas to STOP child sex abuse.
Read what I REALLY SAID on age of consent
He then provides links to various articles he has written.
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