Page 43 - Push Back

homosexuality as simply an “alternative lifestyle” or sexual orientation, logically nothing would
be off limits. “Gay” advocates have taken offense at such a position insisting this would never
happen. However, psychiatrists are now beginning to advocate redefining pedophilia in the same
way homosexuality was redefined several years ago.

In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality from its list of mental
disorders. A group of psychiatrists with B4U-Act recently held a symposium proposing a new
definition of pedophilia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders of
the APA.

B4U-Act calls pedophiles “minor-attracted people.” The organization’s website states its
purpose is to, “help mental health professionals learn more about attraction to minors and to
consider the effects of stereotyping, stigma and fear.”

In 1998 The APA issued a report claiming “that the ‘negative potential’ of adult sex with
children was ‘overstated’ and that ‘the vast majority of both men and women reported no
negative sexual effects from childhood sexual abuse experiences.”

Pedophilia has already been granted protected status by the Federal Government. The Matthew
Shephard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act lists “sexual orientation” as a
protected class; however, it does not define the term.

Republicans attempted to add an amendment specifying that “pedophilia is not covered as an
orientation;” however, the amendment was defeated by Democrats. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fl)
stated that all alternative sexual lifestyles should be protected under the law. “This bill
addresses our resolve to end violence based on prejudice and to guarantee that all Americans,
regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity,
or disability or all of these ‘philias’ and fetishes and ‘isms’ that were put forward need not live
in fear because of who they are. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this rule...”

Earlier this year two psychologists in Canada declared that pedophilia is a sexual orientation
just like homosexuality or heterosexuality.

Van Gijseghem, psychologist and retired professor of the University of Montreal, told members
of Parliament, “Pedophiles are not simply people who commit a small offense from time to time
but rather are grappling with what is equivalent to a sexual orientation just like another
individual may be grappling with heterosexuality or even homosexuality.”

He went on to say, “True pedophiles have an exclusive preference for children, which is the
same as having a sexual orientation. You cannot change this person’s sexual orientation. He
may, however, remain abstinent...”

Dr. Quinsey, professor emeritus of psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario,
agreed with Van Gijseghem. Quinsey said pedophiles’ sexual interests prefer children and,
“There is no evidence that this sort of preference can be changed through treatment or through