Paedophilia verus Homosexuality - Why is the comparison even being made?
I've heard some ridiculous things said during the debate over Proposition 8 but one thing that has stood out is the accusation that a similarity between homosexuality and paedophilia can justify taking rights away from gay people.
A particularly obnoxious individual verbally attacked me for being an LGB rep at my former college, arguing that it brought us one step closer to having a paedophile representative in college common room committees.
Granted, as the accuser pointed out, there are some similarities between the two groups in that people from both are attracted to a demographic of people that differs from "the norm" but the distinction of paramount significance is the consequence of acting on feelings of attraction.
Should acting on lesbian feelings involve sex with someone who was unable to consent and/or likely to suffer as a consequence, of course I wouldn't act on such feelings but as it happens, safe sex between homosexual adults is no more damaging than safe sex between heterosexuals.
What the pro-Prop 8 individual who inspired this post failed to realise is that if homosexuals cannot choose their own sexuality then it follows that neither can heterosexuals, meaning that his comparison to paedophiles is equally applicable to straight people. Best not let them marry then either.
2 comments:
That pro-Prop 8 argument is a classic spin. But there is one other similarity that comes on light here.
Both paedophilia and Proposition 8 are in fact violence against somebody's freedom. In case of pedophilia, it's violence against free development of a child (and that's why we don't tolerate it) while Proposition 8 is violence against freedom of two adults.
Hey, Sha! Thanks for the smart comments on my blog.
If you're going to list EVERY retarded thing about banning gay marriage, you'll be here all day! But I agree. Amongst the worst are the 'first you let gays marry... Then you'll let pedophiles marry children and zoophiles marry animals!'
but you've nailed it right on the head. It's called consent.
Basically, consenting adults should be allowed to do anything with any other consenting adults.
Bestiality and pedophilia, since they involve sexual relations with NO consent (as children and animals can't give meaningful consent) is clearly never going to be acceptable and has about as much to do with homosexuality as a toasted cheese sandwich.
Anybody who spins you that argument is clearly an idiot.
I think we're on the same page here.
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