Teacher uses 'gender unicorn' to instruct preschoolers on sexual orientation – and encourages other educators to incorporate gender ideology into classroom instruction

During a labor union workshop presentation last year, an early childhood teacher admitted to using a "gender unicorn" in her classroom to discuss gender identity and sexual orientation with preschoolers, Fox News Digital reported. The educator also advised the teachers watching her presentation to introduce gender ideology in their classrooms.

What are the details?

Danita McCray, a child development teacher at an elementary school in the Sacramento City Unified District, gave a presentation at the 2021 California Teachers Association conference.

According to McCray, the presentation focused on adopting lessons about gender ideology into preschool to third-grade classrooms.

"Now, early childhood is 0 to 8 years old, so that's kind of like from preschool to third grade. … And the focus … of this workshop is to provide you with positive strategies to support transgender and gender non-conforming children," McCray said in the recorded workshop.

McCray encouraged educators to incorporate the "gender unicorn" worksheet into their classroom lessons about transgenderism. She praised the infographic as a "great tool" for students.

"You can download them, and you can talk to them about it. And of course, it's age appropriate," McCray claimed. "And even at five years old, you can ask them, are you a girl or boy? … and you explain that to them. Yes, you were born a girl or boy, but you may not feel that way."

During the presentation, the teacher also claimed that it is "pertinent" to define terms such as "sexual orientation" and "agender" to students.

McCray added that she incorporates children's books into her classroom that include transgender and gender non-conforming characters.

One teacher during the workshop asked McCray if young children were old enough to learn the topics she was presenting.

"I've done research," replied McCray. "I have got my doctorate degree. Children are not too young at five years old. Children understand gender as early as three years old."

Sacramento City Unified District's reaction

A spokesperson for the school district that employs McCray told Fox News Digital that the district would look into the comments made during the presentation.

"The district will look into the comments made at a conference and whether they align with district policies, or were made outside the scope of the employee's duties," a spokesperson said.

"SCUSD believes parents and families are equal partners in education. We value their contributions and will always work with them to address any issues or concerns they may have with a teacher or other staff member."

More about the 'gender unicorn'

The worksheet was created by Trans Student Educational Resources, an organization with the goal of "transforming the educational environment for trans and gender non-conforming students" by producing instructional infographics and workshops.

The "gender unicorn" infographic worksheet includes a cartoon of a unicorn and attempts to illustrate the differences between "gender identity," "gender expression," "sex assigned at birth," "sexual orientation," and "emotional orientation."