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Alfred Kinsey interviewed a rapist to learn more about childhood sexual behavior

Republicans in Indiana have moved forward legislation to defund the Kinsey Institute located at Indiana University.

Former IU Professor Alfred Kinsey is considered the “father of the sexual revolution” and has faced criticism for collecting data from pedophiles and rapists.

The first report, “Sexual Behavior in the Human Male,” documented the supposed sexual activity of hundreds of children, including the rape of 196 boys whom he claimed experienced orgasm. Kinsey gathered the data from the journal of a rapist, whom he falsely described as multiple sources to protect the man’s anonymity.

Despite some victims’ “violent convulsions,” “sobbing,” or “frightened” responses, Kinsey recorded the information as “pre-adolescent sex play” and claimed they enjoyed the experience. In another passage citing observations by “other boys or older adults,” Kinsey (pictured) provided explicit descriptions of supposed orgasm in infants.

Other data was collected from adults recalling their childhood or from interviewing “parents who had observed their children[and]some from teachers who had observed children interacting or behaving sexually,” according to the Kinsey Institute.

The professor’s reputation led Rep. Lorissa Sweet to lead an effort to defund the research center at Indiana University in Bloomington. The Indiana House of Representatives already passed an amendment to defund the institute and the state senate will vote in April to finalize the state’s budget.

Sweet said in a statement to The College Fix that the Kinsey Institute could be conducting research involving the sexual abuse of children in the spirit of its namesake and that these ethical concerns are why it shouldn’t receive funding.

“Since 2016, the Kinsey Institute has been an incorporated part of Indiana University and because Indiana lawmakers dole out over $400 million dollars to the university, it lies within the responsibility of Indiana lawmakers to prevent Hoosier tax dollars from funding potential crimes of any kind,” Sweet told The Fix.

Sweet argued during the legislative proceedings that the Kinsey Institute has continued its namesake’s legacy of “crimes against children” through its “Kinsey Reporter” app, which allows researchers to track sexual encounters across the globe through anonymous user posts.

“Essentially, as was done in the 40s and 50s, the Kinsey Institute collects data from rapists and pedophiles worldwide” with the app, Sweet told The Fix.

The Fix asked the Kinsey Institute for a response to Sweet’s criticism and how its work benefits the state of Indiana or society in general but did not receive a response to emails sent in the past week.

Marie Metelenick, a communications media specialist for the institute, deferred questions to Amanda Roach, who also works for IU. Roach has not responded to two requests for comment.

Before the Feb 22. vote on the amendment, Democratic Rep. Matt Pierce criticized Sweet’s portrayal of the Kinsey Institute as “libel” and “conspiracy theories” as he spoke in the House Chamber. He described Kinsey and those continuing his work as “honorable people.” Pierce represents the university as the representative from Bloomington.

The College Fix emailed Pierce’s press secretary twice in the past two weeks, asking which of Sweet’s specific claims were false and how the Kinsey Institute is beneficial. The Fix didn’t receive a response.

“Much of Kinsey’s work was concentrated in prisons where he would collect data from pedophiles and rapists,” Sweet told The Fix. “He would also elicit data from prostitutes[,] all of which he then used to portray as normal behavior [to] the American people.”

The influential “Kinsey Reports” on sexuality published in 1948 and 1953 have sparked controversy for decades, especially for Kinsey’s claim that children are sexual from birth.

“It’s this sex torture of infants and children that has laid the foundation for today’s sex education,” said Rep. Sweet.

Some have called for a federal investigation into the Kinsey Institute to uncover more details on how Kinsey obtained his data. A 2003 analysis by Concerned Women for America alleged a mass “criminal cover-up” in the Kinsey Reports, noting that the scholar repeatedly advocated for more lenient laws against rape and child molestation.

The Kinsey Institute has denied that it facilitated the abuse of children.

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IMAGE: Wikimedia Commons

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