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Title is a bit of a hyperbole since there are gays who haven't been molested, but I'm wondering if there could be a causal relationship for some. Especially if the abuse happens at an early age. I suspect some people could be more susceptible to it (due to epigenetics perhaps), especially if it happens at an early age when sexuality hasn't been formed in the brain yet, which leads to 'abnormal' development.
We already know childhood (sexual) abuse causes long-term damage to the brain. "Child abuse and neglect can cause disrupted development leading to delays in, deficits of, or failures of multisystem achievements in motor, emotional, behavioral, language, psychosocial, social, and cognitive skills (for review see De Bellis, 2001)." (De Bellis et al., 2011, p. 1)
The most common counterargument I see online is that LGBT children are more likely to face victimization due to homophobia
. But the rates aren't just slightly higher, they're literally 3.8 times more likely to be molested compared to heterosexuals. “In this meta-analysis, we found a particularly robust pattern of effects such that, compared with sexual nonminority individuals, sexual minority individuals were 3.8 times more likely to experience childhood sexual abuse” (Friedman et al., 2011, p. 10)
Another study found a correlation between childhood sexual abuse and LGB that controlled for variables such as abuse and absent parents. “Our results suggest that from half to all of the increased prevalence of childhood sexual abuse experienced by sexual orientation minorities compared with heterosexuals may be due to the effects of sexual abuse on sexual orientation” (Roberts et al., 2013, p. 9)
I also found this Reddit post where the OP works at a residential boys home for boys that were victims of sexual abuse and have been removed from their homes. Out of the 16 boys, only one or two identify as heterosexual. Much higher than the national average of 5% of Americans identifying as something other than heterosexual
Studies:
Thoughts?
We already know childhood (sexual) abuse causes long-term damage to the brain. "Child abuse and neglect can cause disrupted development leading to delays in, deficits of, or failures of multisystem achievements in motor, emotional, behavioral, language, psychosocial, social, and cognitive skills (for review see De Bellis, 2001)." (De Bellis et al., 2011, p. 1)
The most common counterargument I see online is that LGBT children are more likely to face victimization due to homophobia
. But the rates aren't just slightly higher, they're literally 3.8 times more likely to be molested compared to heterosexuals. “In this meta-analysis, we found a particularly robust pattern of effects such that, compared with sexual nonminority individuals, sexual minority individuals were 3.8 times more likely to experience childhood sexual abuse” (Friedman et al., 2011, p. 10)Another study found a correlation between childhood sexual abuse and LGB that controlled for variables such as abuse and absent parents. “Our results suggest that from half to all of the increased prevalence of childhood sexual abuse experienced by sexual orientation minorities compared with heterosexuals may be due to the effects of sexual abuse on sexual orientation” (Roberts et al., 2013, p. 9)
I also found this Reddit post where the OP works at a residential boys home for boys that were victims of sexual abuse and have been removed from their homes. Out of the 16 boys, only one or two identify as heterosexual. Much higher than the national average of 5% of Americans identifying as something other than heterosexual
Studies:
Thoughts?
