Last weekend, Sydney streets were occupied by people “celebrating” their  involvement in homosexual practices.

The media gave them un-critical coverage, with headlines like “Police praise Mardi Gras behaviour”. (Bigpondnews.com)

The Police, in fact, attended 140 incidents, arresting 35 people for drug possession, assault, offensive behaviour etc. One man was reportedly “seriously” assaulted, two others stabbed. One police officer fell during a brawl and suffered head injuries.

But none of that is probably the point . . . .

* * *

Would one be a spoil-sport to mention that everyone knows that homosexual acts cause disease?

We’ve known for ages that oral sex, as practised by over 90% of homosexual males, is a major means of the spread of hepatitis A and hepatitis B. (1)

Anal sex, as practised by over 90% of homosexual males, is a leading cause of gonorrhoea, syphilis and AIDS. (2)

Then there is the question of whether homosexually-active persons are more inclined than others to sexually assault children.

In Victoria, 20% of sexual assault victims are males, 83% being aged under 17. (3)

The proportion of Australian men identifying as homosexual is 1.6%.  The number identifying as “bisexual” is 0.9% (4)

If a category of less than 3% of the male population commits more than 20% of male sex crimes, isn’t that a bit of a worry?

* * *

Homosexual people must be treated respectfully. That’s true.

But that’s no excuse for media (and schools) to misinform children and to condone dangerous behaviours.

Most adolescents experiencing same-sex-attraction will lose the tendency by age 25.

Adolescents that way inclined are sometimes told that “coming out” will solve their problems.

It will not. It puts their lives in danger.

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 (1) The Lancet 399:938, (2) Journal of the American Medical Association 251: 237, (3) Victoria Police Crime Statistics 2000-2005. (4)  Aust NZ J. Public Health 27: 138-145