Misconceptions

11 posts

“Homosexuals are pedophiles.”

Most Pakistanis would cite examples of truck drivers and anecdotes about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to draw out instances of child abuse and blame homosexuals for such a heinous crime. 1

However, it needs to be appreciated that while abuse of children is rampant, it is usually straight persons who are perpetrators of such crimes, else there would be a lot more homosexuals than generally understood to exist. It also needs to be emphasized that children are usually molested by someone they know, perhaps an uncle or a close family friend. Research has also shown that the abuse of children by homosexuals is quite rare. In fact, girls are seven times more likely to be abused by men than boys are. 2