“So, how are the pedophiles doing?”
As a group psychotherapist for convicted sex offenders on parole and probation who also operates a private practice for queer people, I am bombarded with comments and questions from friends and family:
“Aren’t you scared?” “I could never do that.” “What’s it like to talk to all those child molesters?”
At first I was surprised to hear some of my most educated, liberal friends ask questions that were, to me, biased and misinformed. I had assumed that, as queers and allies, my friends would have a greater sensitivity to the persecution sex offenders face in American society. I have since come to realize that queer folk are not more prone to find empathy for this population. Full Article
Although the choice of nouns the author uses gave me pause, I found this article very interesting. I have had experience with gay men immediately showing prejudice against a registrant, assuming the worst, just like people in the general population. I have to admit I was surprised and disappointed. I thought that people who had been the victims of ignorance and prejudice for so very long would be less likely to judge. I was wrong. The comments at the end of this article are very telling.
I hope that someday, hopefully soon, this will change.