Evangelist Franklin Graham has sharply criticized a controversial educational resource known as MyGender Dolls, calling it "sick," "warped," and "wicked," as the U.S. Department of Education announced it has opened an investigation into the Minnesota Department of Education over the issue.
The controversy erupted after reports claimed the paper dolls-developed through researchers affiliated with the University of Minnesota-could be used by educators and clinicians to help children discuss gender identity. The dolls feature interchangeable body parts, clothing, hairstyles and accessories and are marketed as a tool for supporting transgender and gender-diverse children.
Sharing a report about the dolls on social media, Graham condemned the concept in strong terms.
"You can't ask for a better example of moral depravity than this," he wrote. "Minnesota has developed 'MyGender Dolls' with interchangeable parts, including removable genitalia, to be used to encourage children ages 4-10 to explore their 'gender identities.'"
He continued, "Really? This is so sick and warped."
Rejecting the project's description of "therapeutic play," Graham added, "This is the wicked agenda of woke Democrat socialists, targeting your children."
According to the MyGender Dolls website, the educational resources were created to help children "tell their stories" and provide clinicians and educators with "developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed resources" for supporting trans and gender-diverse children. The organisation says the dolls are intended for use in clinical and educational settings.
However, the rollout has also generated confusion. Minnesota's 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reported that claims the dolls would automatically be introduced into local public school classrooms were inaccurate, even as national media reports suggested some classroom use was planned. The exact extent of their adoption in schools remains disputed.
Amid the controversy, the U.S. Department of Education confirmed Wednesday that it has launched an investigation after receiving a parental complaint. Federal officials said the inquiry will examine whether Minnesota complied with the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), a federal law that gives parents certain rights to review instructional materials and opt their children out of specific activities involving sensitive subjects.
In announcing the investigation, Education Secretary Linda McMahon criticized the use of taxpayer-funded educational resources promoting what she described as "perverted ideologies" for young children.
"While Governor Walz and the radical left continue to funnel taxpayer dollars to perverted ideologies that can harm children, the Trump Administration is fighting to protect children's innocence and defend parents' role as the first and primary decision-makers in their child's education," McMahon said. "No four-year-old should be exposed to such material-especially without a parent's knowledge or consent."
The federal investigation remains ongoing, and the Department of Education has not announced any findings or conclusions regarding whether Minnesota violated federal law.
