<HEAD><TITLE>The Problem of Pedophilia</TITLE>
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<DIV>Dear Pat,</DIV>
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<DIV>Here is the American Psychiatric Association's 2003 statement on pedophilia:</DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> "Pedophilia, included in the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) since 1968, continues to be classified as a mental disorder. The DSM is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals and provides clear, objective descriptions of mental illnesses, based upon scientific research. Pedophilia is categorized in the DSM-IV-TR as one of several paraphilic mental disorders. The essential features of a Paraphilia are recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors that generally involve nonhuman subjects, children, or other nonconsenting adults, or the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one’s partner.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> "An adult who engages in sexual activity with a child is performing a criminal and immoral act and this is never considered normal or socially acceptable behavior. Darrel A. Regier, M.D., M.P.H., Director, American Psychiatric Association’s Division of Research states, “there are no plans or processes set up that would lead to the removal of the Paraphilias from their consideration as legitimate mental disorders.”<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p>That seems fairly clear, doesn't it?</o:p></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p>NARTH (the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality), the source of your (somewhat elderly) article, is *not* a recognized professional organization for counselors, psychologists, or psychiatrists. The article you quote misrepresents and distorts real research. For example, the abstract of the 1992 article by Kurt Freund (inventor of that curious little machine, the plethysmograph) et al, clearly states, "the ratio of heterosexual to homosexual pedophiles was calculated to be approximately 11:1". He distinguishes this ratio from the ratio of heterosexuals to homosexuals among those who seek adult partners, which he sets at 20:1. But Freund explicitly declares that this ratio "would not indicate that androphilic ["man-loving," gay] males have a greater propensity to offend against children than do gynephiles ["woman-lovers," straights], a myth refuted in an earlier study."</o:p></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p>That's right, a myth. The research selectively quoted in the NARTH article clearly states that gay men are NOT more likely to offend against children--in fact, the author says he's already refuted that claim.</o:p></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p>The American Psychiatric Association will survive the attacks of foolish and misinformed people, of course; the 35,000 M.D.s with specialities in psychiatry who are members probably aren't sweating Dr. Laura's gasconade. But let's not contribute to the foolishness</o:p></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p>Melynda Huskey</o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p>(who could be "Dr. Melynda," but doesn't want people to assume that she would be interested in seeing this weird rash they've developed)</P>
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