Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Carole Jenny, MD, MBA*; Thomas A. Roesler, MD; and Kimberly L. Poyer, MSWII
ABSTRACT. Objective. To determine if recognizably tive prompted its supporters to introduce similar
homosexual adults are frequently accused of the sexual proposals in 14 other states.
molestation of children. One of the justifications presented for strong anti-
Design. Chart review of medical records of children gay legislation in these states was the assertion that
evaluated for sexual abuse. gays and lesbians are at particularly greater risk to
Setting. Child sexual abuse clinic at a regional chil-
sexually molest children. Colorado for Family Val-
drens hospital.
Patients. Patients were 352 children (276 girls and 76
ues, a group lobbying to limit gay rights, asserted
boys) referred to a subspecialty clinic for the evaluation that people living a homosexual lifestyle were re-
of suspected child sexual abuse. Mean age was 6.1 years sponsible for 50% of all child molestation (Atler
(range, 7 months to 17 years). disputes groups assertions about gays. Denver Post,
Data collected. Charts were reviewed to determine 3 Sept. 1992: B5). The group called attention to arti-
the relationships of the children to the alleged offender, des which advocated man-boy love.4
the sex of the offender, and whether or not the alleged Little is known empirically about the risk of chil-
offender was reported to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual. dren beingsexually molested by individuals who
Results. Abuse was ruled out in 35 cases. Seventy-
have comeout or allowed themselves to be iden-
four children were allegedly abused by other children
tified as homosexual by the general community.5 A
and teenagers less than 18 years old. In 9 cases, an of-
fender could not be identified. In the remaining 269
review of the literature reveals few references to
cases, two offenders were identified as being gay or persons living a homosexual lifestyle and commit-
lesbian. In 82% of cases (222/269), the alleged offender ting child sexual abuse.67 Clinical experience in the
was a heterosexual partner of a close relative of the child. evaluation of sexually abused children would indi-
Using the data from our study, the 95% confidence limits, cate that homosexual individuals are infrequently
of the risk children would identify recognizably homo- named as potential perpetrators. Yet, as public policy
sexual adults as the potential abuser, are from 0% to 3.1%. may hinge on the potential risk homosexual indi-
These limits are within current estimates of the preva- viduals pose to children, the question must be ad-
lence of homosexuality in the general community.
dressed.
Conclusions. The children in the group studied were
To this end, charts of children evaluated in a child
unlikely to have been molested by identifiably gay or
lesbian people. abuse clinic were reviewed to determine if they had
been molested by someone who might have an iden-
tifiable homosexual orientation.
In the fall elections of 1992, referenda were placed
on ballots in several states which limited the civil
rights of men and women who live a homosexual METhODS
lifestyle. In Colorado, a constitutional amendment The charts of all sexually abused children seen in 1 year (July 1,
passed which made it ifiegal for cities or counties to 1991 through June 30, 1992) in the child abuse clinic or emergency
room of a childrens hospital were reviewed by the authors. Van-
pass legislation protecting the civil rights of gays and
ables examined were age and sex of the child suspected of having
lesbians. In Oregon, a stronger proposal failed which been abused, age and sex of the alleged abuser, and the relation-
would have declared homosexuality abnormal, ship of the potential abuser to the victim. Special attention was
wrong, unnatural, and perverse and declared
. . ., paid to any reference in the chart that might indicate the alleged
that the state should categorize homosexuality with perpetrators sexual orientation or marital status. The information
was collected retrospectively. The alleged perpetrators were not
pedophffia in that regard. A person suspected of interviewed.
being homosexual could have been barred from ac- The relationship of the child and his or her family to the alleged
cess to children even if this meant losing a job as a perpetrator was routinely determined as part of the assessment of
teacher, librarian, or pediatrician. While the Oregon risk for further molestation. It was also standard practice to in-
quire about risk factors of sexually transmitted diseases, induding
legislation failed, the success of the Colorado initia-
asking if the alleged abuser was an intravenous drug user, had
same sex partners, or lived a homosexual lifestyle.
The persons performing the examinations were trained experts
From the *Kemp Childrens Center, Department of Pediatrics, University
(pediatricians and child health associates) in the medical evaluation of
of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Department of Psychiatry, University
childhood sexual abuse. The infomiants were perents, foster parents, or
of Colorado Health Sciences Center, The National Jewish Center for Im-
child care workers accompanying the child to clinic When appropriate,
munology and Respiratory Medicine, and flThe Childrens Hospital,
the children themselves were also queried.
Denver CO.
Received for publication Sep 29, 1993; accepted Dec 3, 1993.
Reprint requests to (C. J.) The Childrens Hospital, 1056 East Nineteenth
RESULTS
Avenue, 8438, Denver, CO 80218.
PEDIATRIcS (ISSN 0031 4005). Copyright C 1994 by the American Acad- hundred
Three fifty two children were evaluated
emy of Pediatrics. for suspected sexual abuse. Their mean age was 6.1
the adult population is still under debate. While data 2. Thorstad D. Man/boy love and the American gay movement. J Home-
sex. 1991;20:251-274
from the Kinsey study would suggest homosexuals 3. Bauserman R. Objectivity and ideology: criticism of Theo Sandforts
represent between 5% and 10% of the population,1 a research on man-boy sexual relations. I Homosex. 199L2th297-312
recent study indicates the prevalence to be in the range 4. Brongersma E. Boy-lovers and their influence on boys: distorted re-
of 1% to 2%.12 Using the data from our study, the 95% search and anecdotal observations. J Homosex. 199120:145-173
5. Roesler TA, Deisher RW. Youthful male homosexuality: homosexual
confidence limits of the risk children would identify
experience and the process of developing homosexual identity in males
recognizably homosexual adults as the potential abuser aged 16-22. JAMA. 1972;219:1018-1023
are from 0% to 3.1%. These limits are within current 6. Halpern J. Family therapy in father-son incest: a case study. Social
estimates of the prevalence of homosexuality in the Casework. 198768:88-93
7. Finkelhor D. Long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse. In D. Finkel-
general community.
hor, ed. Child Sexual Abuse: New Theory Research. New York, NY: Free
The majority (222/269 = 82%) of children in this Press; 1984
sample were suspected of being abused by a man or 8. Lanning KV. Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis for Law-Enforcement
woman who was, or had been, in a heterosexual rela- Officers Investigating Cases of Child Sexual Exploitation. Quantico, VA:
tionship with a relative of the child. In other words, in National Center for Missing Exploited Children; 1987
9. Simon LMJ, Sales B, Kaszniak A, Kahn M. Characteristics of child
this sample, a childs risk of being molested by his or
molesters. Implications for the fixated-regressed dichotomy. J Interper-
her relatives heterosexual partner is over times
100 sonal Violence. 1992;7:211-225
greater than by someone who might be identifiable as 10. Russell DEH. The incidence and prevalence of intrafamilial and extrafa-
being homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual. milial sexual abuse of female children. Child Abuse & Neglect. 1983;7:
133-146
While homophobia is not a new phenomenon in our
11. Kinsey AC, Pomeroy WB, Martin CE. Sexual Behavior in the Human Male.
culture, the attempt to discriminate against persons Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders Company; 1948.
living a homosexual lifestyle as official social policy 12. Billy JOG, Tanfer K, Grady WR, Kiepinger DH. The sexual behavior of
represents a significant change from the status quo. men in the United States. Family Planning Perspect. 199325:52-60
Fewer doctors in Canada eye greener pastures, says a survey by Medical Post, a
trade magazine. Some 45% seriously consider leaving Canada, compared with
49% in a 1979 survey. The U.S. is the most likely relocation choice, though 64%
believe that Canadas government-run health system offers a better working cli-
mate than the U.S. and 87% think that patients get better care in Canada.
Noted by J.F.L., MD
PEDIATRICS is the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A monthly publication, it
has been published continuously since 1948. PEDIATRICS is owned, published, and trademarked by the
American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, Illinois, 60007.
Copyright 1994 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0031-4005.
Online ISSN: 1098-4275.
The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is located on
the World Wide Web at:
/content/94/1/41
PEDIATRICS is the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A monthly publication,
it has been published continuously since 1948. PEDIATRICS is owned, published, and trademarked
by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village,
Illinois, 60007. Copyright 1994 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved. Print
ISSN: 0031-4005. Online ISSN: 1098-4275.