Pederasts are a necessary “bridge” for the adult homosexual community, a key link in the grooming process that turns mixed up boys into easy putty for later homosexual overtures.
OK, what’s the difference? I’ve seen several suggested.
1. one was pre-pubescent (no pubic hair - I think this was pedophilia) vs. post-pubescent (pubic hair - I think this was pederasty).
2. pederasty = boys only; pedophilia = boys or girls
3. pederasty = statutory rape
pedophilia = anything up to that point.
(linguistically this is the most defensible)