On June 14th, The Human Rights Campaign criticized an anti-gay "study"
by the Family Research Council falsely linking pedophilia and homosexuality
as biased, scientifically unsound and a twisting of the facts to further
their right wing political agenda.
The Washington Blade also published a story today where a researcher cited
in FRC's study, A. Nicholas Groth, asked FRC to remove his name from their
report, "Homosexuality and Child Sexual Abuse", because the group
"misrepresented" his work.
"Since your report, in my view, misrepresents the facts of what we
know about this matter from scientific investigation, and does not indicate
that my studies on this topic reach conclusions diametrically opposed to
yours, I would appreciate your removing any reference to my work in your
paper lest it appear to the reader that my research supports your views,"
Groth wrote in his letter to FRC. (Full Text of Letter Follows)
"This report distorts the facts and deliberately cited research out
of its proper context in an effort to advance the Family Research Council's
anti-gay political agenda," said HRC Associate Director of Communications
Wayne Besen. "FRC should remove Groth's citation, as he requested, and
apologize for distorting his work and the work of any other legitimate
researcher they may have misrepresented."
The report, written by FRC staffer Dr. Timothy J. Dailey, was
released in a cynical effort to capitalize off the scandal in the Roman
Catholic Church, where some Church leaders have tried to scapegoat gay
priests for their problems, says HRC.
The report, "documents key facts that reveal that homosexuals are
over-represented among child sex offenders," says the FRC study.
"If homosexuality is a clear risk factor for child sexual abuse," FRC's
report continues, "the ramifications reach far beyond the Catholic Church."
The facts on child sexual abuse and homosexuality are clear. The American
Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the
American Academy of Child Psychiatrists and the Child Welfare League of
America all have policy statements stating there is no correlation between
homosexuality and child abuse.
"We presume that FRC came to such polar opposite conclusions than the
experts because Dr. Timothy J. Dailey, who wrote the group's 'study', is
not a medical doctor or psychiatrist, but holds a Ph.D in religion," said
Besen.
A. Nicholas Groth, Ph.D.
June 10, 2002
Timothy J. Dailey, Ph.D.
FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL
801 G Street N.W.,
Washington, DC 2001
Dear Dr. Dailey:
On the web site www.frc.org
"Homosexuality and Child Sexual Abuse". I am writing you to object to my
name and research being associated in any way, shape, or form to lend
legitimacy to the views proposed in your paper.
If you are, in fact, familiar with my research, you must realize that my
studies have indicated that homosexual males pose less risk of sexual harm
to children (both male and female)–from both an absolute and a percentage
incidence rate–than heterosexual males. Your statement that "the evidence
indicates that disproportionate numbers of gay men seek adolescent males or
boys as sexual partners" appears to come from the assumption that if an
adult male is attracted to a male child, this adult male's sexual
orientation is ipso facto homosexual.
Since your report, in my view, misrepresents the facts of what we know about
this matter from scientific investigation, and does not indicate that my
studies on this topic reach conclusions diametrically opposed to yours, I
would appreciate your removing any reference to my work in your paper lest
it appear to the reader that my research supports your views.
Yours truly,
A. Nicholas Groth, Ph.D.
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