INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Indiana voted on Wednesday to ban Indiana University from using state money to support its sex research institution after an extreme lawmaker right launched disputed allegations of child exploitation by its founder and famous mid-20th century researcher Alfred Kinsey.
The Indiana House voted 53 to 34 to block state funding for the Kinsey Institute, which has long faced criticism from conservatives for its ongoing research and legacy. of Kinsey’s work which they blame for contributing to the liberalization of sexual morality, including greater acceptance of homosexuality and pornography.
Alfred Kinsey, who died in 1956, produced groundbreaking studies of sexual behavior in 1948 and 1953 and was portrayed by Liam Neeson in the 2004 film “Kinsey.”
Republican Rep. Lorissa Sweet claimed some of Kinsey’s research involved child exploitation as she advocated for an amendment to the state budget bill against funding the institute.
“By limiting funding for the Kinsey Institute from Indiana University taxpayer dollars, we can be assured that we are not funding ongoing research committed by crimes.” said Sweet.
Democratic Rep. Matt Pierce, whose Bloomington district includes the college campus, responded that Sweet’s claims were “based on old, unproven allegations of conspiracies that didn’t exist,” calling them “reheated internet memes that keep coming back.” non-stop”.
Pierce said the university maintains a department that ensures all research involving humans complies with federal laws and that the Kinsey Institute aims to better understand human sexuality, including how to treat and prevent sexual predators and pedophiles.
A spokesperson for Indiana University and the director of the institute did not immediately comment on the vote.
Seven Republican House members joined all Democrats present in voting against Sweet’s proposal, which specifically prohibits the use of state money for expenses, including facilities on the institute’s campus, research, utilities, supplies office and maintenance of photographs or research films.
Pierce said the institute’s funding was being exploited as a “culture war” issue and that it would simply create accounting problems for the university to use sources such as outside grants or tuition for the sustain.
The fate of Kinsey’s funding ban may not be decided until a final version of the state budget is voted on by lawmakers in late April.