- State Senator Berg made the comments in a committee hearing on Thursday
- Despite her comments, Berg voted with the committee to ban the children's dolls
A Kentucky Democrat has sparked outrage after he suggested allowing pedophiles to own child sex dolls to prevent child abuse.
State Sen. Karen Berg made the comments Thursday during a committee hearing where lawmakers discussed a bill that would make owning a sex doll that looks like a child a felony.
“There are what they call MAPS, Minor Attracted Persons, and the limited amount of research that has been done on these dolls suggests that they actually – for people who are attracted to minors – that these dolls actually reduce their tendency to go out.” “Attack children,” said Berg.
“That it actually gives them relief that makes them less likely to leave their home.”
Despite her comments, Berg voted with the committee to ban the dolls, and the bill now heads to the full Senate.
Kentucky Democrat Karen Berg has sparked backlash online after she said pedophiles should be given child sex dolls to prevent them from abusing children
Kentucky Democratic Senator Karen Berg is proposing sex dolls that resemble children to stop pedophiles from raping children. @karenforkyI know how we can end child rape “MAPs” and the prevention rate is 100%.
The death penalty.
Here's the full story:… pic.twitter.com/XYes7IeErb
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) March 3, 2024
During her remarks Thursday, Berg said she had Googled child sex dolls the night before and found research that said they could help with the “proclivities” of pedophiles.
She added: “What was interesting was that the research did not support the same conclusions for people attracted to dolls as adults.”
The bill, HB 207, would also make it a felony to import or advertise child sex dolls and add AI-generated images of children to state law banning the viewing and advertising of sexual abuse images of minors.
Berg's comments spread online after the Kentucky Republican Party published a post condemning her.
They wrote, “This may be the most disturbing thing you see today.” Watch Kentucky Democratic Senator Karen Berg suggest child sex dolls for pedophiles. “This type of disturbing proposal has no place in the Commonwealth.”
Social media users quickly began voicing criticism of the lawmaker.
Berg, a Louisville doctor and professor who practiced medicine for 30 years before being elected to the state Senate in 2020
Democratic Senator Karen Berg (right) pictured with her late trans son (left)
One
A third said: “Wow! As a mother, I can imagine more permanent solutions for pedophiles!! None of these are inflatable dolls! '
Following the backlash, Berg issued a statement clarifying her position.
She said: “As a mother and a doctor, I am of course deeply concerned about the harm caused by pedophilia and I regret that my question in committee did not reflect this.”
“I voted in favor of House Bill (HB) 207 banning child sex dolls, a stance consistent with my commitment to protecting the well-being of our youth and holding perpetrators accountable.”
Berg, whose transgender son died by suicide in 2022, is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ rights.
Henry Berg-Brousseau is seen with his politician mother Karen, his father Bob, a marketing executive, and his sister Rachael, a rabbi
The Louisville lawmaker had spoken about her son during the legislative process as she opposed Kentucky bills targeting transgender people that are increasingly being passed in Republican statehouses across the country.
That includes a 2022 law banning transgender girls and women from participating in school sports that match their gender identity, which applies from sixth grade through college.
Berg said in a statement: “At his workplace, Henry would be aware on a daily basis of the hateful and vile anti-trans messages circulating in this country and centered on his workplace.”
Berg, a Louisville doctor and professor who practiced medicine for 30 years before being elected to the state Senate in 2020.
Outrage as Kentucky Democrat says pedophiles should be allowed to have sex dolls for children in order to “set them free” – before calling them “underage attracted people.”