Despite unfounded allegations surrounding the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, its founder, and child sexual abuse, researchers carry on with their work on sexual assault prevention and contraception use among women. The Indiana Legislature’s February decision to ban the institute from using state funds is based on a misunderstanding of their research, according to the institute’s researchers. While funding from the university remains uncertain, senior scientist Zoe Peterson, who leads the Sexual Assault Research Initiative at the institute, will continue her research on consent and sexual assault perpetration.
Peterson strongly opposes conspiracy theorists who falsely suggest that the Kinsey Institute supports sexual violence. She has dedicated her career to reducing sexual violence and promoting consent. The institute is named after Alfred Kinsey, a former professor who established it in 1947 on the Bloomington campus of Indiana University, about 50 miles (82 kilometers) from Indianapolis. Kinsey’s research publications, including studies published in 1948 and 1953, challenged societal norms and views about sex, which led to commercial success, critical acclaim, and conservative backlash, which still persists today.
Critics of the Kinsey Institute sometimes wrongly accuse the institute’s research of promoting greater acceptance of homosexuality and pornography. They have also baselessly linked the institute’s work to child abuse, specifically regarding a research table that was inaccurately associated with sexual experimentation on minors. Republican state Rep. Lorissa Sweet proposed banning the Kinsey Institute from receiving state funding, citing concerns about Alfred Kinsey’s legacy and dubbing him a “sexual predator”. Sweet also questioned why Indiana University would provide over $400 million while protecting Kinsey’s reputation. Justin Garcia, the institute’s director, says that such accusations have persisted since the institute’s founding 76 years ago, leading to threats and harassment directed at staff and alumni.
Garcia has firmly denied the allegations of sexual abuse and stated that the Kinsey Institute’s research practices, both from the past and present, are not what conspiracy theorists claim them to be. Democratic Rep. Matt Pierce from Bloomington criticized the decision to block the institute’s state funding as based on “old, unproven” conspiracies that resurface on the internet. The Kinsey Institute’s website includes a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions section that addresses misconceptions, including the allegations of sexual abuse against Kinsey and rumors of hidden materials in the library.
Senior scientist Cynthia Graham returned to the Kinsey Institute this year after leaving in 2004, during a period when the institute frequently faced criticism for debunking misconceptions about sexual behavior and health. Graham’s return emphasizes the importance of the institute’s research, yet the state of Indiana’s law banning state agencies from partnering with abortion providers or affiliates could endanger the institute’s research by limiting funding and partnerships. Director Justin Garcia worries that the law sets a dangerous precedent that could infringe on academic freedom by dictating what questions researchers can ask. Similarly, Indiana University President Pamela Whitten is working on ways to maintain academic freedom while adhering to the law.
Indiana University President Pamela Whitten remains committed to academic freedom, and she is presently conducting a legal review to assess ways in which the university can adhere to the law without impeding research. Approximately two-thirds of the Kinsey Institute’s funding come from grants and donations, which are subject to yearly fluctuations, while the remainder is usually covered by the university itself. As officials work to comprehend the law, researchers ongoingly carry out their work within a space decorated with erotic artwork on the walls, including explicit sketches and sculptures, and a plethora of photographs related to sex, including images of laboring mothers, culminating in an exhibition displaying a turquoise poster from 1984 that reads, “Great Sex! Don’t let AIDS stop it.” A life-sized Kinsey statue welcomes visitors at the entrance. Senior scientist Cynthia Graham acknowledges that while there is transparency and openness, not everyone embraces it.