A crisis that could be an opportunity
By: Leon
[Introduction by Tom O'Carroll:] A daring young new breed of heretical activists has been making its mark lately, reaching a wide audience through YouTube, and catching the attention of vloggers through high-profile interviews. Amos Yee has been a trailblazer. Inspired by Yee's work in Singapore and the U.S., and now making his own distinctive contribution under the "Youth Liberation" banner is a British born and educated BL. His style - direct, frank, unapologetic - owes something to Yee while his content focuses on good, solid well researched information, drawing on earlier generations of pioneers, notably the Dutch trio Edward Brongersma, Frits Bernard and Theo Sandfort. In a guest blog today "Leon" introduces himself at a time of personal crisis. Motivational speakers are fond of saying that in Chinese the word for "crisis" also means "opportunity". I don't know about that but I sure hope this blog will provide an opportunity both for our guest writer and at least one other heretic here to take their lives forward in a positive way. You will see what I mean.
The price of being the change you wish to see
Dear readers, allow me to introduce myself and to tell you why I am working for youth liberation. I want to thank Tom for giving me this platform. We've all come here on different paths, in many cases with personal struggles along the way, for sure. And yet, whatever route we have taken, we have all been driven by an idea we have in common - a prevailing sense that something is wrong with the societies in which we live.
It's difficult to explain to you who I am, when I'm not quite sure of that myself. In some respects I am an empowered individual; I show qualities of a radical who stands up for the oppressed and advocates freedom for people. And yet, truth be told, I am frightened and still look out to the world from behind the eyes of a lost little boy. Confused, at why things are the way they are; hoping to do good but so often failing.
Have you ever had the feeling that your life's path is far more out of your own control than would be expected? At this point, at age 25, I can't shake the feeling that everything has come together perfectly to bring me to this position here and now. No matter how imperfect things might seem. Two major things which keep me going: I believe we all have a purpose, and that deep down, regardless of the pain we cause others or the suffering we endure... everyone just wants to be loved. Sometimes I want to give up; at other times I know I must take responsibility for creating a loving world; to be the change I wish to see. [1]
At this point I think it's wise to introduce you to what I'm doing now, in regards to activism. I run a YouTube channel entitled "Youth Liberation" - please do take a break from reading this and see the video links below; also take a look at the channel later. As you will see, I began hosting video clips in support of intergenerational relationships between adults and youth. At first with the comfort of anonymity. I contacted the Dutch Society for Sexual Reform (NVSH) to translate from Dutch to English clips of the late Dr. Edward Brongersma speaking on paedophilia. I created videos that explain about cultures around the world with more permissive sexual attitudes than ours, or feature famous men who were boy-lovers.
This was a way to express myself, and to help others learn what I knew. I have now put my face to them, speaking straight to camera. A coming out video, as someone attracted to the young. And other videos which criticise the age-of-consent for sex and what I see as the general oppression of youth as well as discrimination against adults who are youth lovers. In my most recent video I explain this: studies which conclude that sex between youth and adults is always harmful use samples of the population that are unrepresentative of the whole; this includes rape victims, criminal cases and psychiatric patients. Other studies which find correlation with harm use both consensual and non-consensual relationships. Wording such as "victim" and "perpetrator" is used to influence the outcome of these studies. In unbiased studies (see the work of Theo Sandfort and Dr. Frits Bernard) which examine gentle and consensual sexual relationships between children and adults, no significant harm is found but positive results are (as a result of both the sex and the wider aspects of the relationship such as learning and emotional support).
To the logical person, this should make some sense. But the general public react in an emotional, unthinking fashion. Yet I must accept that it's not their fault. My own life is very strange. If I didn't have a personal stake in the issue, would I ever have sought truth? It's not going to be possible in this blog to give you a full overview of my life. I was born in the UK, I went to school where I felt different from my peers; I still managed to maintain some friends. For a while I found fighting and aggressiveness to be an outlet for my underlying frustrations. One day, as a teenager, in short, I witnessed a younger boy imitate my actions. And it broke my heart when I realised I was one of the people who had influenced this boy's behaviour, particularly when he was later sent to jail for stealing and other crimes. And I felt a deep love for him.
Like many people reading this blog, I'm sure, coming to accept my true nature was a long process indeed. In my later teenage years I isolated myself somewhat (thank God for the internet) - it was on Twitter I first confessed my love for a boy and received an "I love you too" in return. His name was Garrett; we had a shared interest in cannabis, animals and the American counter-culture. And Harry Potter now I think about it. I was around 18 and him 14; he used to send me his poems. I think he longed for someone to confide in. We spoke regularly over a few months; we were even going to visit Scotland together at one point, once he was able to travel there on his own. After those few months we parted ways. He had decided to leave the Twitter community we were a part of. But not before introducing me to Allen Ginsberg and Walt Whitman. I hadn't realised that Allen featured in the NAMBLA documentary I showed him soon after. Garrett agreed with what I was beginning to figure out: "It's just another form of love."
Anyway, I must move on. I have known and cared for many boys since then, although now I'm not fortunate enough to be able to associate with any. I have a firm conviction that the men who love boys can have a significant and important role in their lives, and without such boys, these men aren't able to be half as valuable to the world as they can be. So this is partly what influences my activism. To see such a thing compared to the greatest evil? No. I won't stand for it. Wiser people than myself have told me what I'm doing is reckless. Perhaps even detrimental to the cause. It will take decades to change they say; let the sexologists, psychologists and policy makers take the lead. Wait until the former loved young people speak out. No one cares to hear the plight of the paedophile.
Others have claimed I am a hero. This I am most certainly not. What I am, is fed up. You see, were the people in the Western world kind to paedophiles and supportive of them but with genuine reason to stop them engaging in sexual activities with the young (let's say these caused genuine harm). Then I'd be the first to say we must conform to their wishes, meaning never attempt to change age-of-consent laws. In truth, though, the masses are ignorant, and choose to remain this way. And seem to take pleasure in being in the dominant power group. I have confirmed this with the discrimination expert Mrs. Jane Elliott, creator of the blue-eyes brown-eyes exercise. She isn't for breaking the law, but she is aware that the pendulum of societal change is ever swinging.
Furthermore, were it just me who had to miss out on emotional bonds, or who had to hide his true nature, that would be bearable. But my past is filled with other stories and pain; I have an exceptional ability to see the cause of problems. The anger I felt, when I saw a large 18-year-old boy, who our society labels as a drug-dealing thug… when I saw him break down in tears after all of those years suppressing his homosexual attractions; unable to communicate this to any of the so-called upstanding citizens. Fearful of being treated differently. Using combinations of alcohol and illegal drugs in high amounts with the hope of it killing him because he didn't have the (in his own words) courage to do it himself. What am I to do when I know that it's the fear of sex itself, and of all sexual minorities, that causes this type of thing to continue? No matter how many rainbow posters we put up in schools.
What do I do, after I (understandably) denied my own sexual orientation after being asked about it in front of a group of young people, but then later one of the brightest boys, the best artist I've ever seen, at age 16 took his own life? In part because of being ashamed of his homosexuality. I don't presume to know this was the main reason. I believe it was in part because his father died some years before. But his friends reported that he was struggling to accept his sexuality. Critics would claim I attempt to take advantage of these tragedies to advance my own cause. But I've read enough to know that all forms of discrimination are connected; as society loses some scapegoats, we just mistreat other people more. And regardless, no-one can deny that there are teenagers who have an attraction to children who feel like they're living in hell right now. No-one can convince me that homosexuals will be welcomed entirely while paedophiles aren't.
I can't live a normal life. I can't do it. I can't go to work and pretend to agree with what other people say. I can't sit back while communities attack innocent people. I have this overwhelming passion to heal the world, and make it a place where everyone can be accepted for who they are. In my attempts, I admit I make mistakes. Sometimes I forget that in the past I was as ignorant as other people. At times I want everything to happen too fast. But one thing that can't be said is that I do nothing. So I speak to you not knowing what outcome I want or expect. Just hoping that these words can do something to make even the smallest change in this horrible situation.
Because of my choice to be open on this issue, I've put people who have raised me at great risk. I've ruined any chance of blending in and doing behind-the-scenes work. And I'm unable to support young people, which I could have if hiding my true being. So maybe I am a fool. But then again, is it really so bad to stand up and demand change when I know I'm right? When you strip everything back to basics and acknowledge that consensual sexual relationships between any two people are a human right? I don't know. I really don't. But I can't change what's happened. I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with Amos Yee. Once I saw this brave and logical young man speaking out, he somewhat inspired me. We are now good friends and in regular communication. I know he is proud of me and that makes me feel good.
Now you know a little bit about me; you've seen my work and this text, I conclude with the reason Tom has allowed me to use this platform. I presently have no permanent place to live in the UK. As an emergency measure I will be going abroad for a while to live in cheap hostel accommodation. My outspoken political opinions are the direct cause of this. I send this out in the hope that someone might consider a house or flat share with me in maybe two or three months from now. All I need is somewhere basic to sleep, shower and prepare food (which I'm able to provide for myself). This would be a huge weight off my shoulders and I hope there is someone reading this who would actually prefer to share with someone like-minded rather than living a solitary life. I would also be continuing to record, edit and upload videos online.
It's clear that this is a major stage in my life. On the one hand, I might be on the path to great things. Maybe I will be the spark that brings light to this situation which, in truth, is no good for anyone. Too much fear and suppression. Far too much. I think the lack of communication is the main problem. No human capable of empathy is a monster. If we could discuss the situation as a community we could make some progress. Giving the young a voice especially. Unfortunately because of being so vocal I've been left in a position where the masses will see me as a threat instead of someone to sit down and talk with. Anyway, I'm pleased to communicate with readers of this blog regardless of what happens.
Please contact me through YouTube if you can help, and support the channel if you want to. If you have a place I can stay, or can put me in contact with relevant people, and if you'd prefer to use e-mail... Tom will be able to provide you with my e-mail address.
Youth Liberator.
[Some of Leon's Youtube-video's:]
Children's Positive Sexual Contacts with Adults - www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_So5Y42oLw
5 Stages of Power Loss (End of Persecution) - www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CBgOSkMdkc
On Adults Who Love Youth - www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWMDn0zCUnY
Note
[1] Article 'Be the Change You Want to See in the World!' by Ed and Deb Shapiro; www.huffingtonpost.com/ed-and-deb-shapiro/be-the-change-you-want-to_b_569349.html - HuffPost; 11 May 2010 (last updated: 6 December 2017)
source: Article 'A crisis that could be an opportunity' by Leon; Introduction by Tom O'Carroll; Text placed on brongersma.info with Leon's permission; tomocarroll.wordpress.com/2018/05/31/a-crisis-that-could-be-an-opportunity/; Heretic TOC; 31 May 2018