Is the phenomenon of homosexuality in ancient Greece (which involved minors) a relevant topic to the LGBT platform?

One of the more charged issues regarding homosexuality in recent decades is the likelihood of a pattern of impropriety between gay men and boys. Many if not most social scientists have rejected this prospect; any events would be deemed isolated and not reflective of the interests or nature of gay men.

Definitions (Wikipedia): Pedophilia or paedophilia is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children. >Hebephilia: ...sexual interest by adults in pubescent (early adolescent) children (ages 11–14)....ephebophilia, ...sexual interest in later adolescents, typically ages 15–19.

The following statement, it seems, can be accepted as accurate.

While it is clear that pedophilia is a type of sexuality, epidemiology and science have shown it is not a type of homosexuality. There is no connection between having a sexual attraction to little boys (prepubescent) and having a sexual attraction to men.

This topic differs from that involving pubescent boys.

We can note, unfortunately enough, the extensive sexual interest men have for pubescent girls (age 13-15). We have many anecdotes in U.S history of men in their 30 and 40s marrying such girls. In many nations today, it is far beyond anecdote: child marriage is common (e.g., Niger, South Sudan, many other African countries and to a lesser degree in the Middle East). Many cultural factors inform child marriage, but we would be naive to think that (male) sexual interest is not a significant motivator here.

Is there factual basis to assert that gay and hetrosexual men differ in this area, i.e., that homosexual men are less likely to exhibit a parallel sexual interest? (I think not.)

It is fair to characterize that homosexuality with minors was widespread in ancient Greece? Are we to regard the Greek experience as an aberration, a one off thing, that has no bearing on this topic today?

https://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/19a_p1.html

Edited to add:
I. I did not mention the sex trade in young girls in places like SE Asia. Another dimension on the heterosexual side.

II. As we know, most Middle East countries have very strict rules about unattached women being near men outside their families. Perhaps these countries have an insight into the problematic nature of male sexuality (which I argue would be identical for hetro and gay) that we are not being honest about.

Posted Jul 21, 2017, 10:19 PM UTC · edited

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