Culture

US: Fox News Host Bill O’Reilly admits ‘homosexuality has nothing to do with paedophilia’

Mar 14 2013
Written by Joseph McCormick

Fox News Host Bill O’Reilly has been criticised in the past for suggesting, and defending the suggestion that there is a link between homosexuality and paedophilia, but on Tuesday he admitted that was entirely false.

On Tuesday, during a broadcast, O’Reilly was discussing the controversial “Jessica’s law”, which would impose stronger punishments for those charged with abuse against children, reports ThinkProgess.

O’Reilly has reportedly been campaigning against openly gay Colorado House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, over the issue of the law, as Ferrandino won’t allow a vote on it.

Responding to a caller who questions why O’Reilly would point out the fact that Ferrandino is gay, and suggests that people might think there was a link between homosexuality and paedophilia, O’Reilly admitted there is no connection.

He said: “I have to report the truth here. First truism, homosexuality has nothing to do with the crime of paedophilia.

“Second, everyone we report on is defined and that guy is proud of his circumstance and promotes it, so we reported it”.

O’Reilly has still been criticised, however, for his campaign against Ferrandino, and critics have said that he should still be held accountable for suggesting a link between gay people and child abuse in the past.

Back in August, O’Reilly was criticised for defending an anti-gay rights lobby group who have made claims that there are connections between homosexuality and pedophilia.

Back in January, Bill O’Reilly and fellow host Megyn Kelly, mocked the physical appearance of a transgender prisoner, repeatedly calling her ‘he’ and joked that she isn’t attractive enough to be in danger of being physically assaulted in prison.

Speaking of being gay as the Colorado House gave its final approval on a civil unions bill in its final reading yesterday, Ferrandino said: ”This wasn’t a choice. This is who I am.”