Last year, I competed against several other projects for a European grant to build an open source UHS-II hardware controller for higher speed access to SD cards. After winning the award, but before the grant, I was asked to sign a statement committing myself to following the IEEE Code of Ethics. I wrote the following in response, dated 14 January, 2026, to their request.

Two things happened as a result. 1) NLNet chose not to fund the project, and so this project has not moved forward. Perhaps this is a good thing–I’ve had other (well paying) things to do. 2) I’ve maintained my integrity. Indeed, I would agree with the Sweet Psalmist of Israel, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Ps 37:25)

I am sharing this letter because I understand others may be facing similar challenges. I pray these words and the facts shared herein may encourage them.

The letter has been modified from its original form for formatting purposes. Fonts, spacing, bullets, and foot note numbers may no longer match the original. Further, the header with identifying addresses has been removed.

NLnet,

This is in response to your proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), in which you offer myself and a small team under my lead (herein referred to as Dan Gisselquist c.s.) 44,820€ to build an open source UHS-II capability, for the purpose of interacting with SD cards at higher speeds than the SDIO protocol allows. Specifically, in your proposed MoU, one of the conditions reads, “All parties commit to adhere to the IEEE Code of Ethics.” [1]

I would like to take this opportunity to clear up some ambiguities and indeed some would-be contradictions in this “IEEE Code of Ethics”, so that you understand how Dan Gisselquist c.s. understands this code. If NLnet agrees with the following clarifications, then I will gladly agree with your MoU and we can continue.

Here are the specific clarifications I would like to add:

  • Dan Gisselquist c.s. completely agrees “to uphold the highest standards of integrity, responsible behavior, and ethical conduct in professional activities.” It is a shame that this statement would need any clarification. Sadly, it does.

    Specifically, Dan Gisselquist c.s. refuses to participate in the common lie of the day, which professes that “men can become women”, or likewise that “women can become men.” This is consistent with upholding the “highest standards of integrity” which is otherwise required by this code of ethics.

  • Dan Gisselquist c.s. agrees “to hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public, to strive to comply with the ethical design and sustainable development practices, to protect the privacy of others, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment.”

    In this light, Dan Gisselquist c.s. refuses to support the chemical or surgical alteration of individuals from one sex to a delusional other one, as this is not consistent with “the safety, health, and welfare of the public.”

  • Yes, Dan Gisselquist c.s. agrees to treat all persons “fairly and with respect”, and to not engage in “harassment or discrimination, and to avoid injuring others.” However, as noted above, we are concerned that these words may not mean the same thing to all people.

    Dan Gisselquist c.s. reserves the right to discriminate based upon both merit and good moral character. This is a necessary and often unwritten minimum for any profitable business.

    Dan Gisselquist c.s. also recognizes that the definition of “moral character” has never been subjective. Making this definition subjective would undermine the basis for all law and order undergirding every human society. Further, true “good moral character” is timeless and unchanging.

    Now let’s work through the various bases upon which one might discriminate, to make sure we understand each other.

    • RACE

      Dan Gisselquist c.s. only recognizes the existence of a single human race. We reject all inherently racist Darwinian notions that the possession of certain human skin tones or shapes make some humans more or less ape-like than their ancestors. Indeed, we find this notion repulsive.

    • RELIGION

      Dan Gisselquist c.s. has a history of not discriminating based upon religion. However, Dan Gisselquist c.s. reflects that a man’s religion may easily express itself in both moral character, as well as in technical and business acumen. For example, there are religions which celebrate deceit. Such religious expressions are not compatible with honest business. This may result in an unintentional appearance of discrimination.

    • GENDER

      Dan Gisselquist c.s. only recognizes the existence of two “genders,” sometimes called biological “sexes.” These are commonly and historically known as “male” and “female.”[2] Dan Gisselquist c.s. also recognizes that only one of these two genders has the physical, God-given capability to birth and then provide for infant children. This reality forms the basis for family[3], and therefore for creating the next generation of engineers, something Dan Gisselquist c.s. both supports and encourages.

      This view is consistent with over four thousand years of human history and written religious teaching and training.[4]

    • DISABILITY

      Dan Gisselquist c.s. reserves the right to discriminate based upon merit. If a man’s (or woman’s) disability keeps them from being able to perform a given job or provide a financial value to a particular business, then they will of a business necessity be discriminated against. This is to be expected.

    • AGE

      Perhaps nothing need be said here. While Dan Gisselquist c.s. reserves the right to discriminate based upon merit, we also look forward to the opportunity to learn from the experiences of the aged, and to train the young and inexperienced. Each have their valued place in a functioning business.

    • NATIONAL ORIGIN

      I will add little more here, other than to note that “merit” within a team includes the ability to communicate in a common language with the rest of the team, and legal residency is a component of “good moral character” independent of wherever that might be.

    • SEXUAL ORIENTATION

      Dan Gisselquist c.s. reserves the right to discriminate based upon good moral character. Consistent with thousands of years of both human history and morality, the next generation has always been built from families, and families can only be built from one man and his wife. Men cannot get pregnant, nor can they feed infants natural food. Women cannot impregnate other women. Those containing views inconsistent with these natural, physical and biological realities of mankind either struggle with a mental illness, or are intentionally participating in an attempted deception. Neither possibility is consistent with “merit and good moral character.”

    • GENDER IDENTITY / GENDER EXPRESSION

      Dan Gisselquist c.s. reserves the right to discriminate based upon good moral character. Anyone attempting to deceive another regarding their true biological sex, whether it be through clothing[5], drugs, surgical, or any other means, is exhibiting something other than “the highest standards of integrity” required of this code of ethics, or even basic “good moral character.”[6] Likewise, anyone contributing to or supporting the chemical or surgical mutilation of other otherwise physically healthy individuals is displaying some of the most morally reprehensible behavior known to man.

      Indeed, the “highest standards of integrity, responsible behavior, and ethical conduct” would require being truly honest with any individuals caught up in this lie.[7] Such honesty may hurt, and it may be painful, but it will always be the first step in bringing them back to health.[8] This is indeed reflected in an even higher standard, that of loving ones neighbor as themself.[9], [10]

  • Gisselquist agrees to not engage in “harassment of any kind,” which includes “sexual harassment or bullying behavior.”

    Dan Gisselquist c.s. does not believe that using biologically accurate pronouns consists of either sexual harassment or bullying behavior, nor is it necessarily harassment or bullying to declare the truth to someone who does not desire to hear it.

  • Dan Gisselquist c.s. has no intention to injure others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious actions, rumors, or any other verbal or physical abuses.

    However, Dan Gisselquist c.s. notes that referring to someone by biologically accurate pronouns is not a “false” action. It is a “true” action. Rather, the failure to refer to someone by their biologically accurate pronouns is both false and malicious.

    Further, Dan Gisselquist c.s. notes that the failure to use biologically accurate pronouns propagates a malicious lie–specifically the lie that men can become women, or likewise that women can become men. This lie has led to both the chemical and surgical mutilation of children, boys, girls, men and women–a true physical abuse.[11] It is a sad commentary, that when such individuals wake up from this horrible lie, that they will be righteously upset at all of those who helped promote this delusion or contributed to their pain.[12]

    Dan Gisselquist c.s. refuses to either support or contribute to such ongoing verbal and physical abuse of others.

If you will agree with these clarifications of the IEEE Code of Ethics, then we may continue.

Thank you,

// Signed //

Dan Gisselquist