Teaching assistants at the University of Minnesota’s College of Public Health were recently required to attend a gender identity and sexual orientation training. A mascot called the “Gender Unicorn” was used to teach the very serious lecture.

Attendees were provided with a script on how to ascertain someone’s gender pronouns.

“Hi, I’m ______, my gender pronouns are _______. What’s your name and pronouns?”

The Gender Unicorn suggested the use of pronouns such as “ze,” “hir,” and “hirs.”

Similarly, the Gender Unicorn gave instructions not to use “gendering anatomy.” For example, the Gender Unicorn believes it would be wise to shy away from phrases like “a man’s penis, or a woman’s uterus.” Instead teaching assistants were encouraged to say “a person with a penis” or “folks with a uterus.”

The mascot has two colored hearts centered on its chest with a DNA strand near its genitalia. In addition, the mascot is depicted with a thought bubble above its head with a rainbow inside of it.

unicorn

“The Gender Unicorn” was created by Trans Student Educational Resources (TSER). TSER’s website says that it is “a youth-led organization dedicated to transforming the educational environment for trans and gender nonconforming students through advocacy and empowerment.”

[lz_infobox]This piece is part of a CampusZette series exploring the culture, oddities and experiences of students on college campuses through their eyes.[/lz_infobox]

Of course, some students at the University of Minnesota found the training to be in poor taste and out of context.

“This training focused on inclusivity in the college atmosphere – something the U, and most universities, can and should constantly strive for. However, I would hope that in order to fulfill inclusivity, the school of Public Health also included trainings on religious and cultural sensitivity. Some of these [gender] teachings may have come in conflict with students religious values. [H]ow [did] trainings account for these differences in viewpoints?” said UMN College Republicans Secretary Rebecca Dorin.