Trans professor, 34, who defended pedophiles as 'Minor Attracted Persons' finally RESIGNS after 15,000 people signed online petition
The trans Old Dominion professor who defended pedophiles by saying society should refer to them as 'Minor Attracted Persons' has finally resigned after 15,000 people signed an online petition to have them removed from their teaching role.
Dr. Allyn Walker, 34, who goes by the pronouns they/them, was placed on leave by Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, last week after a swell of outrage over their remarks and views.
Working as an assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice since 2019, Walker has written a book that tries to destigmatize pedophilia and encourages people to refer to pedophiles as 'Minor Attracted People', saying they shouldn't be ostracized for their urges, which can't be helped.
In their research, Dr Walker also suggested that pedophiles should also be provided with child-like sex dolls to satisfy their urges.
Following backlash over comments they made attempting to destigmatize pedophiles, Dr Allyn Walker (pictured) has agreed to step down from their role as an assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice at Old Dominion University, remaining on administrative leave before formally leaving their post in May, when their contract expires
Pictured: Anti-pedophilia graffiti is seen scrawled in coloured chalk on the Old Dominion University campus in Norfolk, Virginia, yesterday as students and others made their complaints about Dr Walker heard
And while promoting their book, Long Dark Shadow: Minor Attracted People and their Pursuit of Dignity, they said: 'A lot of people when they hear the word pedophile, they automatically assume that means sex offender. That isn't true. And it leads to a lot of misconceptions.'
They believe pedophiles don't 'choose' who to be attracted to so shouldn't be considered 'immoral'.
'I want to be extremely clear that child sexual abuse is never ever okay,' they said, before saying pedophiles should be offered 'help' and aren't' 'destined' to act on physical urges.
There was immediate and intense outrage among students, who said the professor was using a 'blanket' term for pedophilia and was an apologist for criminals.
Walker earned their PhD at CUNY Graduate Center in 2017, according to the university's website, and specializes in mental health, court systems, queer criminology and 'resilience to offending'
The university's own Trans Advisory Board released a statement to call Walker's remarks 'reprehensible', damaging to the victims of pedophilia and not reflective of the views of the trans community at large.
And earlier this month, the university placed Dr Walker on leave, saying it was for their own safety.
An online petition was set up, which 14,470 people have now signed, which called for Walker to be fired and demanded to know why the university wouldn't end their employment.
When presented with those questions, a university spokesman told DailyMail.com: 'Your questions address private personnel matters that it is our policy not to discuss publicly.'
Pictured: Walker's book which seeks to destigmatize pedophiles who they say shouldn't be ostracized because they can't help their desires
Now though, Dr Walker has agreed to step down from their role at the university, remaining on administrative leave before formally leaving their post in May, when their contract expires.
In a joint statement, with Brian Hemphill, the president of the university, Dr Walker said that their research had sought to prevent child sexual abuse and that their research had been 'mischaracterized', adding claims that threats had been made against them and 'the campus community generally'.
They continued: 'I want to thank Old Dominion University for giving me the opportunity to teach and to conduct my research, and the ODU Department of Public Safety for monitoring the threats against me and the community.
'I am particularly grateful for the outpouring of support from many among the ODU community, as well as others in my research fields who have publicly affirmed the value of my work in advancing child safety.'
Mr Hemphill added: 'We have concluded that this outcome is the best way to move forward.
'We hope today's action helps bring closure for our Monarch family. As we move forward, I encourage all members of the Monarch family to continue our efforts toward healing and civil discourse.
'The safety and security of individual Monarchs and our collective campus are of the utmost importance. For ODU, these will always remain top priorities as we pursue our mission in a caring, inclusive, and supportive community, one that respects academic freedom and remains willing to discuss controversial ideas in an atmosphere free of intimidation or violence.'
The university's own Trans Advisory Board previously released a statement to call Walker's remarks 'reprehensible', damaging to the victims of pedophilia and not reflective of the views of the trans community at large
Earlier this month, Dr Walker put out a statement along with the Old Dominion University in a bid to clarify the controversial remarks.
Walker said: 'I want to be clear: child sexual abuse is an inexcusable crime.
'As an assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice, the goal of my research is to prevent crime.
'I embarked on this research in hopes of gaining understanding of a group that, previously, has not been studied in order to identify ways to protect children.'
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