Pedophiles want same rights as homosexuals Claim unfair to be stigmatized for sexual orientationby Jack Minor Using the same tactics used by gay rights activists, pedophiles have begun to seek similar status arguing their desire for children is a sexual orientation no different than heterosexual or homosexuals.Critics of the homosexual lifestyle have long claimed that once it became acceptable to identify homosexuality as simply an alternative lifestyle or sexual orientation, logically nothing would be off limits. Gay advocates have taken offense at such a position insisting this would never happen. However, psychiatrists are now beginning to advocate redefining pedophilia in the same way homosexuality was redefined several years ago.In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. A group of psychiatrists with B4U-Act recently held a symposium proposing a new definition of pedophilia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders of the APA.B4U-Act calls pedophiles minor-attracted people. The organizations website states its purpose is to, help mental health professionals learn more about attraction to minors and to consider the effects of stereotyping, stigma and fear.In 1998 The APA issued a report claiming that the negative potential of adult sex with children was overstated and that the vast majority of both men and women reported no negative sexual effects from childhood sexual abuse experiences.Pedophilia has already been granted protected status by the Federal Government. The Matthew Shephard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act lists sexual orientation as a protected class; however, it does not define the term.Republicans attempted to add an amendment specifying that pedophilia is not covered as an orientation; however, the amendment was defeated by Democrats. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fl) stated that all alternative sexual lifestyles should be protected under the law. This bill addresses our resolve to end violence based on prejudice and to guarantee that all Americans, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability or all of these philias and fetishes and isms that were put forward need not live in fear because of who they are. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this rule.The White House praised the bill saying, At root, this isnt just about our laws; this is about who we are as a people. This is about whether we value one another whether we embrace our differences rather than allowing them to become a source of animus.Earlier this year two psychologists in Canada declared that pedophilia is a sexual orientation just like homosexuality or heterosexuality.Van Gijseghem, psychologist and retired professor of the University of Montreal, told members of Parliament, Pedophiles are not simply people who commit a small offense from time to time but rather are grappling with what is equivalent to a sexual orientation just like another individual may be grappling with heterosexuality or even homosexuality.He went on to say, True pedophiles have an exclusive preference for children, which is the same as having a sexual orientation. You cannot change this persons sexual orientation. He may, however, remain abstinent.When asked if he should be