Minnesota schoolchildren as young as four will have access to taxpayer-funded transgender dolls this fall through a program backed by Governor Tim Walz, according to a report. Developed with support from the University of Minnesota’s Early Innovation Fund, the “MyGenderDolls” are intended for use by “clinicians and educators” and are designed for “gender diverse children ages 4-10.” These dolls feature interchangeable accessories and removable genitalia, aiming to help children “realize all the different options that exist for who they can be — regardless of their body parts,” as stated by a University of Minnesota postdoctoral fellow. The project originated from a research program within the University of Minnesota Medical School, spearheaded by faculty members Dianne Berg and G. Nic Rider, who are educators in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. Berg explained the dolls are meant to address beliefs that a child isn’t a “real” boy or girl based on their anatomy and to help children cope with societal messages that could lead to shame. The concept, described as similar to classic paper dolls, allows children to select bodies, genitals, clothes, and accessories to visualize their anatomy and genders, according to a summary from the University of Minnesota’s Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health. This initiative is part of several state-funded pro-transgender efforts under Governor Walz, who himself received an award from the University of Minnesota’s Institute for Sexual and Gender Health in 2023 for his work in protecting gender-affirming healthcare.
Adapted from: U.S. News Today on Fox News
