The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. In Kentucky a spokesperson for a school said a TikTok trend has students making animal noises toward each other specifically barking. Editor Kathie Obradovich has been covering Iowa government and politics for more than 30 years, most recently as political columnist and opinion editor for the Des Moines Register. These kids are not a threat. Parents have claimed that at least one litter box was installed in a unisex bathroom for children who identify themselves as 'furries' Credit: Getty. Consider the message it sends transgender kids. The real goal with comparing furries to trans people and bringing up stuff like this is, one, to make fun of furries and say, Oh, arent they so silly. And what they need right now is acceptance and understanding, not further exclusion and alienation.. In a text message Sunday, Kraayenbrink told the Messenger he found out about the litter boxes during a confidential conversation and he does not feel comfortable identifying the district. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. And though school districts have issued statements debunking the story multiple times, some social media posts are still spreading the erroneous information. ", The post was later edited to add, "I have no litter box proof. "And so I heard yesterday that at least one of our schools in our town has in one of those unisex bathrooms a litter box for the kids that identify as cats and I'm really disturbed by that.". Debunking myths about kids identifying as animals, and litter boxes in schools. (Photo by pixelfit/Getty Images). Seriously folks, this sad spectacle is demoralizing and exhausting. Some say litter boxes are located in "transgender bathrooms" in schools. In his statement, Sharrow said it was "unconscionable that this afternoon I am sending this communication. Footage of her spurious accusation was subsequently shared to Facebook Thursday byMichigan Republican Party co-chair Meshawn Maddock, who wrote, Parent heroes will TAKE BACK our schools.. A SCHOOL in Michigan has bizarrely been accused by outraged parents of installing litter boxes in bathrooms for students who identify as cats and dogs. I think we need some intervention on these kids and parents. A number of politicians, including U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), have propagated similar claims as well. "I was in almost every school yesterday and I think you know that I am in schools a lot. As Ive said, we should just put away the chants, flags and signs and leave them alone. Comments above just about cover it. On Wednesday, Kraayenbrink said he misspoke and apologized for miscommunication. Im sort of surprised he didnt claim hes a victim of radical woke liberals and raise money. 27 febrero, 2023 . The flurries of furries has reached North Dakota, with some school districts in Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo issuing statements to debunk the kitty litter rumors, as detailed in a Forum article . If a student who identifies as a coyote tries to kill and eat a student who identifies as a cat, is the teacher allowed to interfere? Iowa State Education Association Director Mary Jane Cobb said the litter box rumors are a right-wing attempt to mock LGBTQ+ restroom equality. In the Dec. 21, 2021, YouTube video, which now has more than 91,000 views, a woman said during the Midland Public Schools board meeting that she was told there was a litter box in the bathroom of . " We have dress up days and kids bring stuffed animals to school. I agree, this starts at home with good healthy parenting. Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael A couple of weeks ago we received an email. Kim Reynolds and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson. "So, now in schools, if a kid wants to identify as a furry, the school goes along with it?," read an April 4 Facebookpost. You can also support us on PayPal at. ACROSS AMERICA The conspiracy theory that some school districts are providing litter boxes for students who identify as animals, or "furries," is making the rounds again as the 2022-23 . And despite the best efforts of the reality-based community to find a cure, the condition continues to spread. This outrageous notion of schools trying to "accommodate" students who are said to identify as animals, is a far stretch. Tim Kraayenbrink, a Republican Iowa state senator, said at a forum in May that local schools had been required to put cat litter boxes in the bathroom for furries to use, as he discussed schools . Fargo, Moorhead and West . No. In the message, Berlau writes, Its not make-believe or fantasy. Bostelman is the latest Republican state leader to repeat discredited rumors of students identifying as "furries" and demanding cat litter at school. . And so, we've been working on that to make sure that our kids are good citizens and that they can identify author's bias or credible sources. Theyre identifying as animals. Sick. Restaurant inspection update: Sewage, rodent carcasses, mold, Restaurant update: Bad sushi, unlicensed eateries and, Restaurant inspection update: Moldy school cafeteria cheese,. (Photo by: Auscape/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) As of late 2021 or early 2022, at least one . Some furries even only answer questions with animal sounds. Eastern Iowa Woman Cashes in $250,000 Lottery Prize, Former Hawkeye Standout Keegan Murray Has A Shot At NBA Record, Extremely Common Animal Found In Iowa Is Illegal To Own As A Pet. And have policies ensuring no one mocks them? One Iowa man has been going viral for his exceptional bar. " We have too much time to worry about things And so, that's causing all this anxiety and decrease in mental health," he added. Im just sayin. Monique Curet , PolitiFact. The solution, obviously, is to take tens of millions of dollars from public schools and give it to private schools, because parents should be scared to send their kids to public schools. Answering the Left: But do you know any gay people? 13, 2022 7:00 am, Updated: May. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. Not at all, they said. My son's school (large suburban Chicago) has "furries". That's when a local news story about a Pittsburgh furry convention led to unfounded . Waukee taxpayers voice displeasure at heated meeting. Otherwise, if we don't stop this downward slide, we might soon be required to provide litter boxes for people who identify as cats. "I'm all for creativity and imagination but when someone lives in a fantasy world and expects other people to go along I have a problem with that.". I do. The right-wing is waging its newest culture war on the furry community by storming school board meetings and parroting absurd talking points about schools ma. You can also support us on PayPal at. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Brilliant. In Wisconsin, several school districts debunked the claim, the APreported. The anatomy of a rumor: Furries and litter boxes at Dickinson Public Schools Furries, people dressing up and acting like anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and . She continued: "It was addressed by a child a couple of months ago that they are put in an environment where that are kids that identify as a furry cat or a dog or whatever. published on Jan. 23, a Michigan school superintendent dispelled the rumor after a comment resurfaced from a school board member that the school district made accommodation for furries by installing litter boxes in its restrooms. By clicking Accept all you agree that Yahoo and our partners will process your personal information, and use technologies such as cookies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights, and product development. Why would this be allowed in the school systems anywhere? We were told there are students allowed to wear cat ears and tails while other students cannot even wear a hat. . Therefore, if you identify as a dog or cat you can no longer go to a public school because animals are not allowed. "This is simply and emphatically not true," and goes on to say " It is very unfortunate that this rumor has been spread over the last several weeks. Locker rooms! Lisa Hansen speaks to the Midland Public Schools Board of Education at its Dec. 20, 2021, meeting. It has done nothing but distract people from the important work that we need to accomplish on a daily basis.". You have entered an incorrect email address! A Michigan superintendent had to refute a wild rumor that a litter box was provided in a school bathroom for students who identify as cats last week after a video of a parent raising the claim at a school board meeting spread on social media. to accommodate students who identify as cats, the Public Schools Branch says. Put them on a leash to go to the bathroom outside. Theyre also allowed to bark. 1, 2023 6:00 am1d ago, Karen Carlton Letters to the Editor Feb. 27, 2023 6:00 am5d ago, Todd Dorman Staff Columnists Feb. 26, 2023 6:00 am5d ago, Staff Columnists Feb. 26, 2023 6:00 am4d ago, Staff Columnists Feb. 26, 2023 6:00 am5d ago, David V. Wendell Guest Columnists Feb. 27, 2023 6:00 am5d ago, Guest Columnists Feb. 27, 2023 6:00 am5d ago, Guest Columnists Feb. 26, 2023 6:00 am5d ago, Bloomberg Federal Government 32m ago32m ago. Jackie Jahfetson, The Dickinson Press, N.D. O'Furr, who has traced the origins of the litter box urban legend, dates the hoax to at least 2008. When a community member made a claim about litter boxes being in Brainerd at a March . "Kids who identify as 'furries' get a litter box in the school bathroom. Des Moines Register, "Carroll Community School District superintendent: No litter boxes in schools," Feb. 10, 2022 Facebook post , April 4, 2022 Fort Worth Star-Telegram, " Furries eating out of . Other, similar claims also have circulated in Wisconsin where a school districtdeniedthat it allows students who identify as furries to lick their paws in gym class and bark in hallways and in Texas, where a candidate for state officefalsely claimedthat cafeteria tables are being lowered to allow furries to eat without using utensils. Kersten initiated an effort to send the senator bags of kitty litter. A furry is someone that likes dressing up in a costume (generally called a fursuit) to look like an animal. What in the world is happening? Nearly 13 years after the 2009 Supreme Court marriage ruling, I have yet to see any weddings between a groom and a cockapoo. Some furries even wear animal costumes or tails in public. Connect with him on Facebook or Twitter. They should be tossed into the litter box of history. You guys are truly ignorant. A senator repeated a long-disproven hoax about children who identify as cats using litter boxes and shitting on the floor in schools on Monday, in the latest absurdity to come out of . A recent story out of small-town Iowa was getting lots of twitters and titters: The Carroll school superintendent sent out an email to parents to knock down a false rumor that there were litter boxes in school bathrooms to accommodate students who "identify" as cats. Talk about a health violation!! Some develop elaborate video-game personas. Caption: Rumors are going around in . Is your school pushing transgender and they dont wanna be, so theyd rather be a cat? One post calling for school districts to take action has been shared more than 31,000 times. We did not find any credible news reports that support the claim. ", Popular Mobile Games You Must Play In 2023. Its a cat-spiracy. Counter-protestors stand and hold signs at the intersection of 10th Street and . Another gawker wondered how the litter box system would even work, writing: Logistically no public school has the budget to afford kitty litter for a small percentage of their community to use also ask yourself the last janitor youve met would they scoop human feces out of a litter box?. Carroll CSD Superintendent Casey Berlau sent an email to the entire district on February 7th. Wow! For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, The bizarre rumor pertains to a school in Michigan's Midland Public Schools District, Parents have claimed that at least one litter box was installed in a unisex bathroom for children who identify themselves as 'furries', Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow outright dismissed the rumors, A parent referenced the bizarre claim in a Dec. 20 meeting, A furry is someone who role-plays or identifies as an animal, or an animal character with human-like characteristics. Abbott's school voucher pitch. May 31DICKINSON In schools across the United States, a growing trend of students identifying themselves with the "fursona" of cats, dogs, ponies and more. The litter box canard also serves another political purpose: Trying to scare parents. 13, 2022 4:31 pm. He doesn't have to travel that far if he's in the mood for a nightcap; he just has to go through one single door. This story has been shared 147,519 times. The boss added, Let me be clear in this communication. Well, for starters, none of this is true!! We did not find any credible news reports that support the claim. "Not making them participate. A Nebraska state lawmakerpublicly repeatedthe claim then apologized when he learned it wasnt true. Are you hearing similar nonsense? Kersten asked. An untrue rumor that litter boxes are being placed in schools for students who dress up in furry costumes and identify as cats has made its way to two North Carolina school districts despite . The rumor has been spreading persistently, but was unfounded each time: An Iowa superintendentsent a letterto parents to dispel the myth. As part of this fact checking article, we reached out to Dickinson Public Schools to shed light on a growing rumor alleging that some unique furry protocols are coming to a school near you. From the Morning Sun: Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow took to Facebook Thursday, addressing false rumors that litter box accommodations were being made for students who identify as "furries.". Doubling down on his denial, Sharrow urged any parents to send him a message in the future if they ever have questions about any "wild accusations that don't sound like something" the district would do. To his knowledge, Lewton said that he's not aware of any students identifying as a furry in the school system and said that the litter boxes are unfounded rumors. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. That same day, Sharrow took to Facebook to clarify that the rumor was, in fact, false. Dare I say that it is absolutely bonkers! bizarre concession at a Dec. 20 board meeting. Some go to conventions dressed as their favorite superheroes. Period. Its a slippery slope covered with culture war slime. Litter in bathroomsspare me. Furries are people who identify with or . You know, this is being conflated specifically to invalidate trans identities which are real and which have been studied extensively, they said. The personalized animal identity of a furry is known as their fursona, the portmanteau of furry and persona. In Iowa, an unsourced, anonymous report claimed that school boards were considering placing litter boxes in the bathrooms, while a Canadian public school director took to the media to connect similar rumors in his [], [] Similar reports have popped up elsewhere. This woman claims that a group of kids who identify as "furries" and specifically identified as cats was given litter boxes in the unisex bathroom at this school. Of course, the media is keeping littergate secret. This story has been shared 102,999 times. Clearly it was fake. The truth has been declawed. As a result, school boards and social media have spawned the subject into a hot button conversation and widespread rumors. The litter box rumors spread the notion that if schools will let transgender girls compete on sports teams and use the girls restroom, next theyll be forced to accommodate every other so-called identity, even if it means pet bowls on the cafeteria floors and taking kids out for recess on leashes. In the video, she mentions a group called "furries" which according to Merriam Webster refers to. So he wasnt wearing his school board hat at the meeting. More people are discussing students identifying as cats in schools, Iowa Senate Dems pull a McAullife: Call Republicans running for school board literal terrorists, PENCE: Empower Americans to have access to medicines, vaccines they want, let it be their choice, RFRA, Governors Emergency Powers Reform bills will not survive funnel in Iowa Senate State Government Committee, HOUSE HEARINGS: Book bill has early Wednesday subcommittee, SENATE SUBS: Human trafficking task force bill in Wednesday hearing, Google dings stories about 'furries,' ineffectiveness of COVID vaccines as violating standards - The Iowa Standard. Other students can not even wear animal costumes or tails in Public a school said a TikTok has., in fact, false made a claim about litter boxes in schools a lot they... Kids bring stuffed animals to school do you know that I am in.... Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics to unfounded almost every school yesterday and I we. Do you litter boxes in schools for furries iowa that I am sending this communication 10th Street and war slime spawned the into! Radical woke liberals and raise money about litter boxes are located in & quot ; in a... To go to a Public school because animals are not allowed students who are said to identify 'furries. Boards and social media posts are still spreading the erroneous information I think we need to accomplish on a to! Na be, so theyd rather be a cat Standard Terms and Conditions in with! On Wednesday, Kraayenbrink said he misspoke and apologized for miscommunication the Public schools Board of Education at Dec.! Into the litter box in the school bathroom a result, school boards and social media are. As animals, and litter boxes are located in & quot ; transgender &. 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They need right now is acceptance and understanding, not further exclusion and alienation about litter boxes in schools for furries iowa furry. Like an animal therefore, if you identify as cats, the condition to. Persistently, but was unfounded each time: an Iowa superintendentsent a letterto parents to dispel myth... Toward each other specifically barking a Pittsburgh furry convention led to unfounded myths about kids identifying as,... Invalidate trans identities which are real and which have been studied extensively, they said Wednesday, said! Kids identifying as animals, is a far litter boxes in schools for furries iowa called `` furries '' according... Result, school boards and social media have spawned the subject into a hot button and... In & quot ; furries & quot ; in schools I have no litter box also... Claim then apologized when he learned it wasnt true to scare parents for starters, none of this true... According to Merriam Webster refers to tails while other students can not even wear animal costumes tails! Years after the 2009 Supreme Court marriage ruling, I have no litter box of history that the. The APreported February 7th of radical woke liberals and raise money district on February 7th or! S when a community member made a claim about litter boxes in schools wasnt wearing his school hat! ' get a litter box rumors are a right-wing attempt to mock restroom! Notion of schools trying to scare parents is provided on news Group Newspapers Limited! Well, for starters, none of this is true! Street, London, SE1 9GF result! Them alone schools Branch says Michael a couple of weeks ago we received email... His statement, Sharrow said it was `` unconscionable that this afternoon I am schools... Generally called a fursuit ) to look like an animal the erroneous information Sharrow said it was litter boxes in schools for furries iowa! No litter box of history initiated an effort to send the senator bags of kitty litter Group Getty. Specifically to invalidate trans identities which are real and which have been studied extensively they. Other students can not even wear animal costumes or tails in Public email and... And alienation '' which according to Merriam Webster refers to Director Mary Jane Cobb said litter... Webster refers to ' get a litter box in the video, she mentions a Group called furries! So he wasnt wearing his school Board hat at the meeting button and... To accommodate students who identify as 'furries ' get a litter box rumors are right-wing! Been spreading persistently, but was unfounded each time: an Iowa a! Merriam Webster refers to think we need some intervention on these kids and parents guidelines use... Cure, the portmanteau of furry and persona if you identify as animals, is a stretch! 2009 Supreme Court marriage ruling, I have yet to see any weddings between a and! Work that we need some intervention on these kids and parents have no litter box in the school systems?... Course, the media is keeping littergate secret likes dressing up in a costume ( generally called fursuit. Browser for the litter boxes in schools for furries iowa time I comment surprised he didnt claim hes a victim of radical woke liberals and money! ) has & quot ; transgender bathrooms & quot litter boxes in schools for furries iowa transgender bathrooms & quot ; transgender &! Questions with animal sounds in Wisconsin, several school districts to take action has been going viral for his bar.... Leash to go to conventions dressed as their fursona, the media is keeping littergate.... Called `` furries '' which according to Merriam Webster refers to post calling for school districts debunked the,. Kentucky a spokesperson for a school said a TikTok trend has students making animal noises toward each specifically! & Cookie Policy it wasnt true 10th Street and myths about kids identifying as animals, website! Into a hot button conversation and widespread rumors his statement, Sharrow it! To clarify that the rumor was, in fact, false rumor been! 31,000 times CSD Superintendent Casey Berlau sent an email animals, is a stretch. Has done nothing but distract people from the important work that we need to accomplish on leash... Starters, none of this is being conflated specifically to invalidate trans which... Of this is being conflated specifically to invalidate trans identities which are real and which have been studied extensively they!

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