How many homosexuals here were molested as children?

Question

I just had an answer to a different question of mine (in the Religion Category) in which the answerer said that "most homosexuals were molested as children".

So I thought I'd put it to a vote: if you're a homosexual, please let me (and the rest of Yahoo Answers) know whether you were molested (or had anything of that sort happen to you) as a child. And, just to make sure that we satisfy everybody, if you had a problem with or were distant from your parent of the same sex, you'd better let us know too (as long as any of this isn't too personal, of course).

My guess is that we don't have a majority of homosexuals who were molested as children, but let's just find out the democratic way...

Glad to help: wonderful; just what I was wanting ot hear. I wasn't asking this question because I had any doubts on the subject; I suppose it just made me feel better to hear it from people here.

Puffy: Whoa! I think you're barking up the wrong tree here. I didn't mean my question to sound "filthy" (and I'm not quite sure what you mean by "liberal guilt"); my apologies if I offended you! It was not intended; I'm on your side, for crying out loud!

serial_kisser: No, that's not my opinion; I hear that from the fundamental Christians but hadn't heard any legitimate statistics on the matter so I thought I'd see what sort of answer Yahoo Answer folks gave me.

Thanks everybody for the (mostly) nice answers so far! If I offended anyone with this question please believe that this was not my intent; I dislike homophobes as much as anybody else...

Answer 1

There's no need to refer to a non-scientific area like Yahoo Answers for this; the topic has been studied exhaustively by scientists, who have found that gay people are not more likely to have been molested, or to molest others, than straight people. I'd encourage you to do a Google search on this topic, and you'll find lots of sources. Be sure to visit the American Psychological Association for its opinions on the topic.

Those who work in "ex-gay" ministries like to report that the majority of those with whom they work were sexually molested.

Keep in mind, however, that their sample is not representative. Those who contact "ex-gay" ministries are doing so because they want to change their orientation. It's arguable that a bad childhood sexual experience is one factor in why they feel unhappy with their current sexual orientation.

Answer 2

As a 14-year-old boy, I had a male lover of 25....shock, horror.

Obviously a dangerous relationship legally, it nevertheless lasted almost 5 years, and even at the age of 19, it was still illegal due to the absurdly high age of consent laws applicable at the time, which stood at 21.

So I guess I was moles........ No! Hang on!

I was never molested.

I was loved, respected, cared about, often entertained, taught many wonderful things from a very intelligent guy, taught self-respect, taught to appreciate the value of loyalty and, without doubt, shown what a wonderful thing a proper relationship can be.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that it was the most wonderful experience and the one thing which set me up for life.

I met a young man of 20 in Holland a couple of year back, and he and his boyfriend seemed incredibly happy together; his partner being about 35. It slipped out that they had been together 5 years, and at that point, we had much to talk about and compare.

His story was similar to my own, and it was heart-warming to listen to it.

That said, I feel sure that the law is right, because there are any number of dangerous predators out there in the world, but as Shakespeare pointed out, "Love knows no laws".

Maybe....just maybe....there are wonderful exceptions to the norm, where real love is present and where a young boy can develop emotionally within such a relationship. In fact, I know that to be the case from my own experience.

So I definitely wasn't molested.

(I wonder why such a positive and honest assessment of a real situation should receive a thumbs down from anyone, unless they don't want to face truth?)

Answer 3

first of all, you should know that that is going to be a common, though completely incorrect (stereotypical) answer when answered in the religious category. too many right-wing extremists like to use generalizing, stereotyping, unscientific, completely made-up, bigoted "reasons" like that when passing judgment on us.
I know only ONE gay/lesbian person (my partner) who was molested as a child. most of the people I know or have met that were molested are straight.
I had a happy childhood, and was NOT molested. I was born to straight parents who were married 29 years until my father died. I didn't know anyone gay growing up, nor did I meet anyone gay until long after I realized I was. I was never "hurt" by a man because I never was involved with a man....I never was attracted to them. that should cover a majority of the lame stereotypes.

Answer 4

Do you really need a survey for that? Is it really important to have that kind of information?

Most gay people were not molested, just as most heterosexuals were not. But what if they had been? Does that make their hate, their homophobia easier to accept? How do they reconcile the hate that many so called Christians have for gay people.

They are the ones with problems, their hearts are field with , hate, head filled with confusion masked in fear and hate.

Instead ask your zealot friends "What happened in THEIR childhood that so corrupted them? What about their past fills them with such fear, so much anger that they would dare use Jesus, God, Allah, Moses as clubs to beat us, to kill us to threaten our very existence?" They of course will not be able to answer coherently, but instead site passages from The Bible that they do not understand, comprehend nor truly live. They are frauds to their own blind faith. Faith in a dogma, not to a real God.

No, dear, I won't answer your filthy question to soothe your liberal guilt or maternal need to explain us to thugs, cowards and spiritual retards.

Get your faux facts from someone else. You do us no favor by patronizing us.

Answer 5

The interesting thing is no more gays/lesbians were molested as are homosexuals who molest children.

I know it's an inflamitory subject, but the truth is homosexuals are no more likely to molest children than are heterosexuals...and when talking percentages of those who do...it's far less.
Ironically most adults who molest children are usually related to their victims. Those who are not still concider themselves adult sexually heterosexual. Child molestation has about as much to do with sexuality of the offender as does Rape has anything to do with the sex act itself.

Child molesters don't see their victims as sexually either gender. It's the fact that they are chidren/immature physically and or emotionally that "turns them on."

John Wayne Gacy, for instance, NOT gay. Had been married twice and had two children. His victims were those who he had ACCESS TO. Immature males who worked for his lawncare company or boys who's families "trusted" Mr. Gacy from having hired him to entertain their children as a clown for birthday parties. Most Priests will say they are not gay either. They simply had access to boys moreover than girls.
What the media NEVER focuses on is the fact that more girls are molested than are boys! Or that Adult WOMEN make up about a quarter of all child molesters!

Now, as far as your question goes. No, I was never molested as a child. I had a good relationship with both my parents and as any adolescent does, I played one off the other to get responces I wanted...some of the time.
I had an overly protective, but emotionally distant relationship with my older brother...we had a fairly typical sybling rivalry going on there.
Yes, I'm a lesbian leaning bisexual.

Oh, and for anyone wants to know...I'd kill, with my bare hands, anyone who dared to hurt my SON!
He was never molested or abused growing up either...but no, he's not gay. So, there you go.
No molestation in my family and I'm gay, but my son is not.

Answer 6

I am gay but was never molested as a child, and the only two people that I have ever known to be molested as children were females molested by a male relative.

Answer 7

I am gay. I remember always being gay, since I was a little boy.
I never was molested. I am not feminine or flamboyant. I did not want to be a girl but I used to like boys, I preferred their company. I do not believe that being molested has anything to do with being gay. We are born this way. My parents and my sister were and still are wonderful, we have a terrific relationship.

Answer 8

I'm transgendered, but the anti-gay types think we're just a different shade of the same thing anyway.

Never been molested (least not that I know of.)

I don't think my relationship with either of my parents was 'distant' (although, when I was about eight they caught me wearing one of my sisters dresses and asked if I wanted to be sent to... I think it was Holland for a sex change, all I heard was "do you want to be sent away" and the disappointment in their voice. I loved them too much to want to be sent away, or to hurt them, so I said no... and regretted it ever since.)

Answer 9

I agree with you- homosexuality has no more to do with being molested as a child than heterosexuality.

As for me, was very lucky and nothing like that happened to me.

Answer 10

I had a happy childhood, no one hurt me. My parents have been married 51 years, 5 kids, strict Catholics - 2 of us are lesbians.
My friend came from a family of 7, her parents run a Baptist church, they have 3 gay sons and a gay daughter (4 of 7 kids are gay). I know this is not typical, but it is interesting information for your poll. By the way, my partner had a happy home too!