I like actual comments . . . not libelous propaganda

I deleted a comment this morning; I've never done that before in the year-and-a-half that I've been doing this blog.

Like most any blogger out here, I enjoy getting comments. When I got a notification this morning that I had a comment for the first time in three weeks, I was happy. Until I read the comment itself, that is:

Did you know that homosexuals make up only 3% of the population, yet they account for 40 to 50% of all child molestations? True Fact!

Firstly, the jury is still out on what percentage of the population is homosexual. Estimates have ranged from 1% to 10% over the years since Alfred Kinsey first reported the 10% figure in Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, published in 1948. Since there is still considerable social stigma associated with being gay or bisexual, many people hide their orientation. Worse, many attempt to hide it by attacking those who do not. Just take a look at all of the anti-gay politicians and religious leaders who've been, to borrow a song title from the Dead Boys, caught with the meat in [their] mouth[s]. It has long been my gut feeling that, if the stigma was completely eliminated, the 10% estimate may, in fact, be too conservative.

As for the claim that 40 to 50% of all child molestations are commited by homosexuals? From the American Psychological Association's on-line article Child sexual abuse: What parents should know:

Who are the perpetrators of child sexual abuse?

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• Most children are abused by someone they know and trust.
• An estimated 60% of perpetrators of sexual abuse are known to the child but are not family members, e.g., family friends, babysitters, childcare providers, neighbors.
• About 30% of perpetrators are family members, e.g., fathers, brothers, uncles, cousins.
• Just 10% of perpetrators are strangers to the child.
• In most cases, the perpetrator is male regardless of whether the victim is a boy or girl. Heterosexual and gay men are equally likely to sexually abuse children. A perception that most perpetrators are gay men is a myth and harmful stereotype.
• Some perpetrators are female -- It is estimated that women are the abusers in about 14% of cases reported among boys and 6% of cases reported among girls.
• Child pornographers and other abusers who are strangers may make contact with children via the Internet.
• Not all perpetrators are adults - an estimated 23% of reported cases of child sexual abuse are perpetrated by individuals under the age of 18.
• Other common characteristics of perpetrators include:
  1. a history of abuse (either physical or sexual)
  2. alcohol or drug abuse
  3. little satisfaction with sexual relationships with adults
  4. lack of control over their emotions
  5. mental illness in some cases

I have no desire to start moderating comments, but any comments of a similar nature (i.e., false propaganda directed toward any group) will be deleted in future with no comment from me.