Trustee of Mermaids quits after speech to paedophile aid group Times article

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Sorry I don't have a share token but the article claims that Dr Jacob Breslow has links to an organisation that promotes 'induviduals who are attracted to pedophiles'. Mermaids have removed him now but it does show how lax their safeguarding procedures are (yet again).

Dr Jacob Breslow ... gave a presentation at an event for the US-based B4U-ACT in 2011.
According to its website, B4U-ACT promotes services and resources “for self-identified individuals . . . who are sexually attracted to children and desire such assistance”.Records show that the academic...became a trustee of Mermaids..in July this year.

www.thetimes.co.uk article/990e9e88-434f-11ed-8885-043c27446b97?shareToken=0258f847470f2b5b0bf6d1e933863c30

Wasn’t Benjamin Cohen talking the other day how it’s been ‘many years’ since his husband was a trustee, when it was suggested that, that link made him biased in his defence of mermaids.

Now he is saying he, himself, is a trustee of over decade? Surely that would also make him biased?

Or have I missed something?

I think Cohen is the trustee of another charity, not Mermaids.

anyone remember this?

bet the BBC are well glad they deleted their Mermaids links a couple of years ago!

archive: archive.ph/jrZvh

Yes, PIE mark 2.0

Not sure I'm misunderstanding your post, @Hearthnhome
Cohen has been a trustee of the UK branch of Handicap International, and of LGBT arts charity, Wise Thoughts, according to a quick Google. Not Mermaids though, as far as I can see.

I think it’s me that’s missing something tbh. The tweet to me reads like BC is saying he is the trustee of the charity they are talking about. As in mermaids.

But is he saying in his experience as a charity trustee (but a different charity) he thinks they need to review governance?

Just checking my name change has worked...

I hate to say this as I have worked with the woman on a few projects over the years and had nothing but admiration for her work ethic and her drive, but this has Mermaid's Chair and certain cohorts of Cambridge University (who he has links to) all over it.

I don't believe this is a case of no one bothering to do their research on him. I would bet my house that at least one of the self serving, self congratulating charlatans on that particular gravy train had read his last few published works and simply lacked the basic intelligence to realise the path it is laying.

Useful idiots.

Interesting insight Unfortunately - thank you for sharing.

I hope that what’s left of the best of British investigative journalism is having a good nose through various dirty laundry piles. It’s horrifying that a children’s charity could be so lax.

UnbelievablyUnfortunate I have come across BB in a work context when she proposed a staggeringly naive and ill-conceived project, sent it to the VC and it got kicked down several layers to me. Not sure about her judgement TBH

Will this thread serve as a continuation of the previous one on Mermaids?

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4644323-mermaids-being-investigated-by-the-charity-commission?page=40&reply=120524795

Why not! 😁

If so …

LinkedIn gives you the name of the Mermaids Safeguarding Lead since Sept 2016.

Head of Helpline Services & Designated Safeguarding Lead

Sorry @ArabellaScott . I started a second thread. Shall I ask for it to be removed?

Up to you, m'dear, I just thought it might save making more threads!

Thanks, Dreikanter.

'A former pastor and Christian family support worker' - so presumably with experience and knowledge of safeguarding procedures?

Hmm. Is B4U ACT not a similar concept to StopSO in the UK? As in they support people who are worried about their feelings/urges towards children not to offend?
Because if so I can’t see a problem with that, I think it’s a good idea. Juliet Grayson does some great work with StopSO.

@ArabellaScott . It's ok. Have put a note on there and asked MNHQ to delete. Simples; as the meerkat says.
Love,
Upstart Newbie. (save that for a name change I think)

I hope the police are checking that creep's devices or is that just something they do to women who speak out against gender ideology??

You think it's a good idea for someone who works with paedophiles to be the trustee of a charity set up to support children, Judy? Because I think there may be a bit of a conflict of interest.

Why do you think someone who compares sex with children to sex with shoes is the right person to be he trustee of a charity for vulnerable children @JudyGemstone ? This was not just one talk at a conference, there have need many talks, papers, books etc.

StopSO

if it’s about preventing harm to children I’m not sure I see the problem no. It’s hardly ‘supporting paedophiles’ as in advocating for sexual activity with children in a NAMBLA/MAPS sense. It’s the opposite, helping people not to act on sexual feelings towards children.

Have you read any of his works, or even the quotes? Why are you defending someone who believes children can consent to sex with an adult? Would you be happy leaving your child alone with him, or with members of the group he advocates for? If not, why not?

Nope, never heard of him before and not read anything. Just wondering if that’s the type of charity he was involved with.

I find it's always a good idea to read up on someone I'm defending - especially if he's a paedophile apologist who's got a place on the board of a children's charity.
Just a thought.

As a ‘line to take’ (I’m seeing remarkably similar comments BTL on the Times related article) it’s pretty piss-poor.

It’s about normalisation, not harm-prevention.