I would have said that pedophilia is a crime, while mental illness is just that -- an illness.  If you put mental illness in with the "crimes" that require registration and informing your neighbors, you would have to include diabetes, cancer, an inflamed prostate, etc.  There would be be no end to the number of people included.  We must protect our children and neighborhoods against convicted pedophiles.  You don't have to protect anyone against me -- I am not going to harm you.  Mental illness is not contagious.  It is not a crime.  It is not shameful such that I would want to hide my real identity from you.

When you lump MI in with criminals you take away the humanity and hope and all the good things that mentally ill persons have to give to the community.  I believe I have many qualities to be emulated, such as courage, doing volunteer work, taking care of my ailing mother, etc.  I should be a valued memember of the community, not someone to be pointed at and shunned.

Carolyn