 | |
| Formation | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Michael Melsheimer, Russell Dick |
| Legal status | Nonprofit organization |
| Headquarters | Baltimore |
| Location | |
| Russell A. Dick | |
Publication | B4U-ACT Quarterly Review |
| Expenses | $7,000 (in 2008)1 |
| Website | https://www.b4uact.org/ |
B4U-ACT (lit. 'Before you act') is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Baltimore1 that works to prevent child sexual abuse by providing resources and treatment for pedophiles.23
Background
B4U-ACT was founded in 2003 by Russell Dick and Michael Melsheimer.45 Melsheimer was a former YMCA director that served four years in a federal prison for aggravated sexual assault involving children and Dick a former director of social work of the Springfield Hospital Center.5
B4U-ACT claims their aim is to provide mental health resources and conduct research.67 Since 2021, the organization has published a quarterly journal collecting reviews of their current research.8
As of 2008, the organization had approximately 25 members.1
During the development of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), B4U-ACT criticized the proposal of the American Psychiatric Association's Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Work Group regarding the inclusion of hebephilia as a subtype of pedophilia in the DSM-5.1
In October 2022, Jacob Breslow, a member of the transgender charity group Mermaids resigned from office after it was reported that he had spoken at a 2011 event organized by B4U-ACT.9
References
References
- Johnson, Rebecca A.; Barrett, Marna S.; Sisti, Dominic A. (2013). "The Ethical Boundaries of Patient and Advocate Influence on DSM-5". Harvard Review of Psychiatry. 21 (6): 334–344. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000010. ISSN 1067-3229. PMID 24201823.
- Christiansen, Candice; Martinez-Dettamanti, Meg (2018), "Prevention in Action: Exploring Prevention Initiatives and Current Practices", in Lievesley, Rebecca; Hocken, Kerensa; Elliott, Helen; Winder, Belinda (eds.), Sexual Crime and Prevention, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 27–56, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-98243-4_2, ISBN 978-3-319-98242-7, retrieved 2023-10-31
- Tereszcuk, Alexis (2023-05-11). "Fact Check: NO Evidence Pastel Rainbow 'MAP' Flag Signifies Normalizing Pedophilia". Lead Stories. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- "Another shocking scandal at Mermaids". Spiked. 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- Bleyer, Jennifer (2012-09-24). "How Can We Stop Pedophiles?". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- "About Us - B4U-ACT". 19 June 2021.
- Cohen, Lisa J.; Ndukwe, Nwayieze; Siegfried, Rachel; Kopeykina, Irina; Yaseen, Zimri S.; Galynker, Igor (2018). "Attraction Versus Action in Pedophilic Desire: The Role of Personality Traits and Childhood Experience". Journal of Psychiatric Practice. 24 (6): 374–387. doi:10.1097/PRA.0000000000000348. ISSN 1538-1145. PMID 30395545.
- "B4QR (Journal) - B4U-ACT". 5 January 2021.
- Beal, James; Bannerman, Lucy (2022-10-03). "Trustee of the transgender charity Mermaids quits after speech to paedophile aid group". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2026-04-11.