A professor has been placed on administrative leave after saying that it is not always immoral for adults to be sexually attracted to children.

Allyn Walker, an assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice at Old Dominion University in Virginia who identifies as they/them, voiced their opinion while talking about ‘minor-attracted persons’ and pedophiles earlier this month.

Walker was having an interview with the Prostasia Foundation, a child protection organization based in San Francisco, on November 8. That was when Walker brought up their book A Long Dark Shadow: Minor-Attracted People and Their Pursuit of Dignity.

The professor insisted that the term ‘minor-attracted people’ be used instead of pedophiles because it does not bring as much stigma.

Walker said that ‘minor-attracted persons’ maybe interpreted by some as conveying that it is fine to be attracted to kids. However, Walker said labeling someone entirely around their sexual desires does not say one thing or another about their morality.

‘From my perspective, there is no morality or immorality attached to attraction to anyone because no one can control who they’re attracted to at all,’ Walker said. ‘In other words, it’s not who we’re attracted to that’s either OK or not OK. It’s our behaviors in responding to that attraction that are either OK or not OK.’

On Tuesday, the university stated that Walker had been placed on leave.

‘Reactions to Dr Walker’s research and book have led to concerns for their safety and that of the campus. Furthermore, the controversy over Dr Walker’s research has disrupted the campus and community environment and is interfering with the institution’s mission of teaching and learning,’ the statement read.

In addition, the university’s president Brian Hemphill stated: ‘I want to state in the strongest terms possible that child sexual abuse is morally wrong and has no place in our society.

‘This is a challenging time for our University, but I am confident that we will come together and move forward as a Monarch family.’

Many Internet users slammed Walker as trying to ‘normalize’ adults who are attracted to children.

Walker had put out a joint statement with the university on Saturday in an attempt to provide clarification.

‘I want to be clear: child sexual abuse is an inexcusable crime,’ Walker said. ‘As an assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice, the goal of my research is to prevent crime.’

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