When will people get it?
Far – right and allegedly conspiracy theorist website, Humans are free have accused the UN of normalising pedophilia and legitimising sexual abuse. What gave them that idea? Let’s pause for a moment and let’s see if you can guess…
Yep! Humans are free are accusing the UN for legitimising pedophilia because of their fights for LGBTQ+ rights and condemnation anti – LGBTQ+ violence around the world. The article also alluded to transgender people being able to use public toilets that align with their gender identity being a risk to children.
Arguably, the UN could be accused of hypocrisy, considering that LGBTQ+ people can be executed in countries like Saudi Arabia, a member of the UNHRC. And many dictatorial regimes also condemn LGBTQ+ people. But what I object to is the never – ending linking of LGBTQ+ people and pedophilia. No, most LGBTQ+ people don’t have an attraction to children! While people in the 1970’s and 1980’s claimed there was a link between gay men and child abuse, ‘studies’ used to support these claims have been debunked.
Pro LGBTQ+ organisations have repeatedly condemned the notion that they want to legitimise and condone pedophilia. Two of the latest examples that I’ve come across of far – right activists trying to smear LGBTQ+ people is the (false) news that Minor Attracted Persons (MAPs) have a pride flag and are accepted by the LGBTQ+ community. This caused outrage on social media from members of the LGBTQ+ community. They vehemently deny any link or any acceptance from the LGBTQ+ community. and from a year ago, the myth of ‘clovergender’; when someone allegedly identifies as a person younger than they are in a bid to get close to and assault children. This, too, has proven to be false.
Why this is important?
Frankly, I almost class these accusations as a form of slander. If these accusations were aimed at another group, including Christians, there would be an outcry. Why do LGBTQ+ people have to put up with these claims again, again and again?
It’s no surprise that stigma and discrimination can harm a person in multiple ways. It can affect a person’s mental health, ability to work and their ability to form healthy romantic and non – romantic relationships.
Studies in the US have found that in many of the major cities, LGBTQ+ people make up nearly half (40%) of youth homelessness. This is despite the fact that they make up less than 10% of the population. There is also the studies worldwide that claim that LGBTQ+ people have higher rates of mental health issues and suicide. I have written about these many times before. This, no doubt, would put strain on the mental health system, including phone counseling services. But that’s not all.
The World Economic Forum argues that stigma also affects workplaces and national economies, with results in loss of productivity and higher rates of unemployment and poverty.
The New York Times
The article also accuses US newspaper/ online publication, New York Times for stating that pedophilia should not be a crime. What the article actually says is not that simple.
Associate Professor, Margo Kaplan wrote that pedophilia should be seen as a mental disorder. That is, the sexual attraction to children should be treated like any mental disorder (to Kaplan’s credit, she didn’t say ‘sexual orientation’). Kaplan argued that this will prevent child sexual abuse by pedophiles.
She also claimed that pedophiles should be protected under anti – discrimination law. Again, she argues that this will help prevent offending. Like other disability exemptions in US disability/ mental illness anti – discrimination acts, schools would be able to discriminate against a person who has attraction to minors.
Kaplan also lamented at the fact that most pedophiles are only offered rehabilitation in the aftermath of a a sexual offence (or a number of offences) against children have already being committed. She believes early intervention can help prevent some of these crimes. Needless to say, this has NOTHING to do with the LGBTQ+ community.
I will continue writing posts about this when I feel I need to. These smears need to be dealt with and stopped. Enough’s enough.
