I was merely stating both sides of an argument.
I, personally, think that most gender confusion is a result of a mental illness. There is an entire spectrum of “mental illness” from extreme paranoid schizophrenia to triskaidekaphobia and we react to them accordingly.
I would never allow a paranoid schizophrenic to babysit my child, but I would have no problem with a trisaidekaphobic doing so.
The AMA, in their infinite wisdom, moved all homosexual and gender identity issues off the list of mental illnesses. I think that is a mistake.
As for your well reasoned, researched argument linking homosexuality to child molestation...a liberal would say it is poorly sited and certainly not peer reviewed, thus unbelievable. They would counter with statistics showing the thousands of people killed by guns every year.
I am not stating this in support of their argument, I am just pointing out how reasonable (in their minds anyway) people can be on polar opposite stands and how...in my own way...I try to come to grips with it.
It burns my soul to say it, but if a guy dressed as a girl wants to pee in a ladies room, and he keeps his hands (and other body parts) to himself, so be it.
By the same token, if I want to carry a concealed weapon wherever I please, as long as I don’t use it to break any laws, I should be allowed to do so.
The APA (American Psychiatric Association) did not remove homosexuality from the list of mental disorders as a result of "wisdom", they did so out of fear. Mobs of homosexuals were showing up at their annual meetings and threatening them with bodily harm if they did not do so. Enough of them were intimidated to make a majority, and at an APA annual meeting (1973 I think) they voted to remove homosexuality from the list.
As for your well reasoned, researched argument linking homosexuality to child molestation...a liberal would say it is poorly sited and certainly not peer reviewed, thus unbelievable.
Here is a source listing various studies. I've read various JAMA articles on the subject. Here's one. (Journal of the American Medical Association.)
If they want to argue the validity of the numbers, there is plenty enough scientific study out there to back up the numbers.
I am not stating this in support of their argument, I am just pointing out how reasonable (in their minds anyway) people can be on polar opposite stands and how...in my own way...I try to come to grips with it.
This is actually a pretty widespread phenomena, and it is not confined to disputes between liberals and conservatives. I have found that many people are simply unpersuadable by any facts or evidence. They have made up their minds what they wish to believe, and they will not change their minds regardless of what you throw at them.