The coloring page shows a child's body — naked, anatomically detailed, with female features below the waist and masculine features above. It was designed for children as young as four. And it was presented by a clinical psychologist at the University of Minnesota who told her audience the goal was "pleasure oriented positive sexuality later in life."

The psychologist's name is Dianne Berg.

Video from a 2019 presentation titled "Beginning to Understand Body Dysphoria in Pre-Pubescent Gender Diverse Kids" shows Berg walking colleagues through the materials she uses with what she calls "gender creative children." The coloring books feature naked children in various poses. Paper dolls come with interchangeable genitalia. The target audience starts at age four.

Berg explained that the materials teach kids that "private parts do not have to define one's gender identity." She described them as "gender affirming" tools designed to show that "all kinds of gender expressions are okay." She recounted a seven-year-old patient seeing one of the dolls and exclaiming, "That's me!"

The videos also documented a separate presentation from May 2, 2023, for something called the GenderFlex study. That project interviewed 43 children between ages five and eight about gender identity. One researcher framed the study's purpose this way: "Can we have conversations with kids about gender and be able to help them have a nuanced conversation?" Another dismissed concerns that the conversations might confuse young children, insisting that "cis kids will be confused if you ask them about gender, and we know that this isn't true."

Both projects operated under the Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health at the University of Minnesota. The institute's co-director is Nic Rider. In 2024, the institute received $1.35 million in research grant funding. Three federal investigations into the MyGender Dolls project are now underway.

Dr. Quentin Van Meter, a pediatric endocrinologist and former president of the American College of Pediatricians, reviewed the materials and called them "kindergarten pornography essentially." He described the underlying claims as "deceitful ideas" and offered a correction that shouldn't require a medical degree: "Sex is determined at fertilization. Period."

Rep. Tim Walberg, chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, is among the federal officials now looking into the program. The U.S. Department of Education and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee are also involved.

Meanwhile, Berg's profile has been quietly removed from the university's website. An automated response says she's on sabbatical — conveniently scheduled from May 15 through October 19. The university released a statement calling the Eli Coleman Institute "dedicated to being a global leader" in its field.

A global leader. In showing naked paper dolls with swappable genitalia to four-year-olds. At a taxpayer-funded public university. With $1.35 million in grant money.