I often hear this debate about whether being a pedophile is a sexuality or whether it's a preference within another sexuality.

My current view is that it's not a sexuality but I'm interested to hear other peoples views.

The reason I don't think it's a sexuality is because as a pedophile people tend to be attracted to either girls or boys while some are attracted to both which to me makes pedophiles either heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual.

However, in my mind, pedophiles are heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual people attracted to partners with particular characteristics, specifically younger partners. I know people who are attracted to older partners but if a man in their 30's is attracted to women in their 60's they are not oldersexual, they're heterosexual but are predominantly attracted to older partners. In the same way, if someone is attracted to a partner with a particular ethnic background or hair colour or any other characteristics then it doesn't stop them being heterosexual or homosexual, they just have a stronger attraction to partners with specific characteristics.

So in my mind pedophiles are not a separate sexuality but equally being a pedophile should not be seen as anything different to other attractions. I don't think it's a mental illness any more than being attracted to blonds or older females is a mental illness. We are each wired how we're wired and each have different attractions and definitions of beauty so pedophiles like everyone else are just attracted to certain characteristics.

A man attracted to blond's is not a danger to blonds just because they find blonds attractive.
A man attracted to older women is not a danger to older women just because they find older women attractive.
A man attracted to young girls is not a danger to young girls just because they fin young girls attractive.

I see pedophiles as regular people, not a separate sexuality, not a mental condition, just people with an attraction.