Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Transgender, pedophilia, and homosexuality

I've written extensively about why I feel for and advocate on behalf of homosexuals.  For the same reasons, I feel for transgender folks and pedophiles (those with a sexual orientation toward children, not necessarily child molesters).  Why?

First, let me admit that I don't know a ton about either pedophiles or the experiences of transgendered people. I'm learning. 

Second, I point out reasons why I feel for people in these two demographic slices (and may, later in life, advocate appropriately for their interests, including greater understanding and acceptance). 

- They are marginalized in society.
- Generally, they are misunderstood.
- Talk about your minority stress!
- Their gender identity and sexual orientation, respectively, both greatly inhibit "fitting in" to normal society (we live in a fiercely gendered world with a robust, mostly heterosexual marital norm- try fitting those molds as a transgendered person or pedophile)
- Both likely experience loneliness and hide their identity
- Those who are open about who they are experience rejection and stigma

I just read the wikipedia article on pedophilia.  It sounds a lot like reading a thirty-year-old article on homosexuality- e.g. diagnosis as a mental disorder, there's no cure, they're assumed to be child sexual abusers, they're incarcerated indefinitely, the incidence is similar, there's a component of heritability, sex abuse as a child is considered causative, it's seen as abnormal and morally wrong by society, etc.: striking parallels.

Now, I oppose adults forming sexual/romantic pair bonds with children as a general rule.  However, there may be some benefits to openness as to one's transgender or pedophilic orientation (ephebophilia and hebephilia as well).  Greater progress is yet to be made, I think, to accommodate for non-gendered persons, and those who are a third gender (have a gender, but neither classically male nor female). 


From a recent post comment I wrote:

I think it makes sense to describe being gay as who you are. However, I'm not convinced that God rejoices _every_ time someone lives honestly, to the extent that honesty means acting in harmony with an aspect of one's identity such as sexual orientation. Some people, for instance, really do have a sexual orientation (emotional, sexual, romantic) towards children. I'm convinced God is displeased when adults act on this identity by developing romantic/sexual peer relationships with children, who are almost always deeply harmed by such action.

I think God rejoices when we live honestly, and when we act in harmony with our identity, in ways that increase net human benefit. Homosexuals are merely more lucky than pedophiles, because morally acting in harmony with their gay identity is much more feasible (e.g. they can choose a lifelong committed partnership). Pedophiles (by nature, not necessarily by behavior) are, in my view, truly unlucky. I can see them looking wistfully at a homosexual: those whom pedophiles wish to partner with can't even give meaningful consent. I am grateful that the unnecessarily stigma of being gay is fading; I am at more of a loss for how to help some of the more marginalized groups whose identity, were it realized by behavior, would generally prove net harmful, rather than net beneficial. I am saddened to think of the closeted, lonely, and frustrated lives I imagine many pedophiles live.

One could also consider polyamorous folks, whose identity often leads them to form loving, sexual, romantic relationships with several partners. This type of behavior, if open and committed, might be morally acceptable or advisable. However, the morality is greatly hindered because of natural human jealousy of the first spouse, and the normative expectation that marriage entails an exclusive commitment in the arena of sexual/romantic/emotional intimacy overlap (hence, poly folks often break commitments in order to be true to themselves). For the polyamorous and the pedophile, I think the morality of their behavior is affected by the reality of their identity: however, the calculus is far from complete after that lone consideration.

9 comments:

  1. Homosexuals are merely more lucky than pedophiles, because morally acting in harmony with their gay identity is much more feasible (e.g. they can choose a lifelong committed partnership).

    This comparison is offensive and demeaning. Let's just rephrase it, if you want to see it from a different point of view:

    LDS couples who marry in the temple are merely more lucky than pedophiles, because morally acting in harmony with their Mormon identity is much more feasible (e.g. they can choose a lifelong committed partnership).

    Sheesh!

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  2. MoHoHawaii might be right. I've been angered in the past myself over the constant comparison of pedophiles to homosexuals, though I always defined pedophile as a child molester in my mind.

    I would point out that some partners in LDS marriages do have a sexual orientation towards children, but otherwise I think I see the perspective you illustrated well with the rephrase.

    On the other hand, I'm not sure what's so offensive about a comparison to pedophiles, hebephiles, or ephebophiles. I'm not offended by comparing my heterosexual orientation to any of these other three sexual orientations (my usage has to do with the orientation, not behavior). Homosexuals, pedophiles, and heterosexuals are all innocent when it comes to their unchosen sexual orientation. Help me understand what's demeaning about the comparison.

    Also, would either of you refute the claim that individuals with hebephilia, ephebophilia, or pedophilia are unlucky compared to heterosexuals and homosexuals? Fulfillment of emotional, sexual, and romantic needs can be a big part of one's life and happiness. Since it would be wrong for an adult to engage in sexual/romantic/emotionally intimate relationships with a child, wouldn't the hebephile, ephebophile, and pedophile likely feel lonely, frustrated, and perhaps self-loathing? When I put myself in those shoes, I can easily imagine such an outcome. Heterosexuals and homosexuals, on the other hand, have the option available to them of developing those three types of intimacy without the same likelihood of harm coming to the desired partner.

    I'm new to exploring this idea, so I wouldn't be surprised if I'm making some logical errors. Thanks for your patience, and I don't intend to hurt anyone's feelings.

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  3. You don't find it very offensive, because you are in the lucky majority. Try living as one of the hated and misunderstood minority. Except for a minority of states, lbgt people dont enjoy the full range of civil rights that every other American citizen has access to. Life can be difficult for gays and lesbians, but its infinitely harder and more dangerous to be transgender. Almost every facet of our lives are complicated, and fraught with decisions you couldn't even imagine.

    Most people understand what being gay or lesbian is about. They know its about sexual attraction and who they love. But ask a random person to explain what its like to be transgender, and most people are clueless. And really it's nearly impossible to explain what its like for ones gender not to match ones body.

    "Their gender identity and sexual orientation, respectively, both greatly inhibit "fitting in" to normal society (we live in a fiercely gendered world with a robust, mostly heterosexual marital norm- try fitting those molds as a transgendered person or pedophile)"
    ----Most transgender people fit into a two gender world, that isn't our problem. Our problem is that our gender (whats between our ears) doesn't match our sex (whats between our legs). As for sexuality, transgender people are gay/lesbian at the same rate as the non-trans population, if you take their gender, not their sex into consideration.

    For you to equate transgender people to a sexual behavior that is illegal in every state, every country is beyond the pale.

    "I'm new to exploring this idea, so I wouldn't be surprised if I'm making some logical errors. Thanks for your patience, and I don't intend to hurt anyone's feelings."
    ---- I know that you are trying to better understand the lgbt world, but you have a long way to go. I suggest you read several of the better lgbt sites. Bilerico.com is one of the best out there. Try reading this poem to see if you still think that it's perfectly acceptable to compare transgender and pedophiles.
    http://www.bilerico.com/2011/06/poem_walking_for_samantha.php

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  4. Re: You don't find it very offensive, because you are in the lucky majority.

    So true. This may seem unrelated, but it reminds me of a recent post by PZ Myers about a magnet that says "I'm too pretty to do math":

    "But then, I can afford to use it ironically. I haven't spent a lifetime having my abilities dismissed because of my sexual attractiveness. It looks different when you view it that way.

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  5. I really, really appreciate that you are trying to understand sexual minorities; however, putting pedophilia in the same category as homosexuality is not only misguided, it is dangerous. Perhaps there is a very valid reason why the wikipedia entry re: pedophilia sounds creepy--it is because it *is* creepy.

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  6. Biki, to be fair to Brad he was not comparing the action of having a relationship with a prepubescent or pubescent child with being transgendered, but merely the sexual preference for these children. I agree with you, though, that these sexual preferences are not comparable to being transgender, which unlike the three, or gynephilia or androphilia, is not a preference for a sexual partner.

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  7. Brad, as a man who experiences same-sex attraction, I understand why some people are so quickly offended by the comparison of homosexuality to pedophilia. I remember having a similar reaction. But over time, I've come to see that the attractions themselves develop in very similar ways. I think it's important that we understand that most individuals with SSA aren't attracted to children.

    Our opposition to adult/child relationships is justifiable. But that opposition is being attacked in the same way society's opposition to homosexual behavior was attacked 50 years ago. This post http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/sexual-anarchy is quite eye-opening regarding the sociopolitical process that is being used to increase acceptance of sexual permissiveness.

    As a man with SSA, I'm saddened by the fact that culture is increasingly pursuing an agenda that discriminates against me. The goal isn't to increase tolerance of individuals who choose to engage in behaviors contrary to the Law of Chastity. It isn't to increase acceptance of them as individuals. Instead, the goal is to mold a society where those behaviors are the only appropriate response. Individuals like myself, who seek to overcome feelings of same-sex attraction, who choose to live in harmony with the Gospel, aren't just ignored. Instead, our existence as individuals is actively denied. We're told we weren't ever really gay, that we're lying to ourselves, that we're frauds.

    We need to be careful not to be deceived. Society is actively moving in a direction not characterized by open tolerance and acceptance of people regardless of their feelings or behaviors. That I could tolerate. That I could work for. However, The direction we're headed is making anyone with religious values of chastity the discounted, devalued, persecuted minority. And I have a problem with that.

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  8. "Now, I oppose adults forming sexual/romantic pair bonds with children as a general rule" - What does this mean, exactly? In your mind, when is this okay? When is this not okay? " I think God rejoices when we live honestly, and when we act in harmony with our identity, in ways that increase net human benefit" - um, okay, So, let's just say, I am a person who, for me to live honestly, and act in harmony with my identity, means that I kidnap and torture people, is this then, a cause for God to rejoice? I, am not denying that there are homosexuals and transgender people in the world, and I know quite a few, however, I think that your message leaves a lot to be desired. To live in harmony with God, is to follow God's commandments, not man's.

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