Hi Warm Bread

I know how hard it can be, apparently my extended family wouldn't react to well if they found out. I try to keep in mind that they hate what they think an MAP is, not me personally and they might not hate me at all if they take the time to get to learn about the attraction. It's not always easy of course. As for strangers that don't know you, it's always important not to dwell to much on what other people think, as long as you know what's true and who you are. Also try to keep in mind, that young people, the ones you have feelings for, are generally very open minded and usually take the time to learn new things about the people in their lives or the way the world around them truly is. I haven't actually discussed my orientation with any young people, but for the most part I think they truly don't hate us either, even though they are often misled into thinking we're the worst sort of danger to them. Not saying you should out yourself to any children, but try and have a little faith in them in the hypothetical that they did somehow know. Just a reassuring thought that sometimes helps me.

B4U-ACT is a mental health advocacy group that tries to improve the availability of compassionate and understanding mental health services for any minor attracted people that may seek them, by dialoguing and meeting with people in the profession of psychology, social sciences, and sexuality studies. We hope that they might learn more about our community and our diverse mental health needs, such as stress or depression resulting from living in a society that views them so harshly and negatively.

Even if mental health treatment from a therapist is something you're not personally looking for, we also have our own online support group like GC. You don't have to have certain beliefs about your sexuality in order to join even though there are certain topics that are generally not a focus of the group.

B4U-ACT itself and it's representatives don't have a stance on certain issues, but we would assume that individual posters at our group have their own opinions and simply recommend they talk over private e-mail if they need to discuss anything outside the purview of our organization. You don't join up and become a "B4U-ACT pedophile" or have to wear any particular label. There's no significance to the capital letters in our name ;)

Anyway, sorry, I don't mean to turn this post into a rant about ourselves. This is about you. I hope the bit of advice and outlook in my first paragraph might be helpful, as well as what other posters might have said already.

I can relate to what you wrote in your last paragraph. It reminds me of something a student wrote as a result of her interviews with myself and some other MAPs. "It's confusing (the MAP) tells me, when love makes you push everyone away. When something normally so good has the potential to create so much devastation should it spill out"

So know, that there are understanding people out there with diverse opinions that you won't have to hide from, even if they're hard to come by. Be cautious, but try. Take care.


Matthew Hutton, B4U-ACT inc.