The tricky relationship between the LGBT rights movement and pedophilia.

I'm writing this thread after having viewed the thread about the homophobic comments of EVOLVE Festival (http://ift.tt/1yV3eTd). This really got me thinking about the tricky and delicate balance between pedophilia and the LGBT rights movement.

First, I'll clear up some terms just so there isn't the usual misguided confusion that is spread about in discussions about this. Pedophilia is a sexual attraction to prepubescent children. There are different levels and mixes with other sexualities, but what pedophilia isn't is child abuse. Being a pedophile does not necessitate having committed a sex crime any more than being gay necessitates having sex with other men.

The tricky balance comes because pedophilia is entirely dissimilar to other sexual minorities. Often homosexuality and pedophilic behavior are unfairly conflated - one is the loving relationship between two consenting adults, while the other is taking advantage of someone who is inherently unable to consent. As such, it's been in the interest of the LGBT rights movement to distance themselves from pedophilia.

At the same time, however, "non-practicing" pedophiles are a very marginalized and misunderstood group. They're as unable to control their attraction as anyone else, so they have to learn how with CBT and medication - a huge effort and one that we should definitely respect.

Accepting child abuse is obviously not the "next step in the gay rights movement" as so many fearmongers are loth to point out. However, could accepting pedophilia be? Ultimately, pedophiles are in many cases people suffering with discrimination, the inability to be open about themselves, and a super high preponderance of other mental health problems in large part brought about by the cognitive dissonance inherent in having base attractions go against your morals and ethics.

Should the LGBT community reach out to pedophiles and offer our support to help them successfully thwart their saboteur, or should we spurn them because of the negative association that the vast majority of society still holds against anything having to do with pedophiles?

I'd be super interested to hear your thoughts on this.