The Minnesota Department of Education has denied claims that it plans to distribute "transgender dolls" with removable genitalia to public school classrooms starting in fall 2026. The dolls, developed by University of Minnesota scholars, are intended as therapeutic tools for licensed professionals, not for classroom use.
A viral post on X (formerly Twitter) falsely attributed the initiative to the state, alleging that Governor Tim Walz supported the project. The Minnesota Department of Education clarified that the dolls will not be implemented in K-12 public schools. The project, funded by the University of Minnesota’s Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health, targets children aged 4 to 10 and is designed for use by professionals supporting gender-diverse youth.
The nonprofit Defending Education has filed a complaint with the Department of Justice and the Department of Education, arguing that the dolls undermine parental rights and children’s innocence. The group claims the project was funded by Governor Walz’s administration and criticizes the lack of parental notification. Walz received an award from the Eli Coleman Institute in 2023 for his efforts in sexual and gender health advocacy.
The dolls, marketed by MyGenderDolls, are set to be released this year, though exact dates remain unspecified. The project has sparked debate over the role of educational tools in supporting gender-diverse children and the boundaries of parental involvement in such initiatives.