In its most distilled form, furries are a group of people who formed a community or fandom because they have a common interest in anthropomorphic media, friendships and social inclusion. Legitimate concerns can help our school community grow, whereas these sorts of rumors really hurt our school community, she said. Obviously, its not true, so I dont know where people are coming up with this stuff.. Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow sent a message to the school district to address the claim. According To WILX, Midland Public Schools was accused of installing litter boxes in the restrooms for students to use. "[112], Education Minnesota said that the internet hoax "appears to be an attempt to discredit school policies intended to make schools safe and welcoming for students". Its scary because, as Ryan Broderick pointed out in his newsletter Garbage Daywhich this week focused on the panic over furrieseven stories debunking the rumors helped spread them. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation US, Inc. Fursonas can be a safe, functional way for furries to explore who they are as people. 19-year-old charged with murder. You can cancel at any time. But just like with book bans, furry fearmongering is translating into state law: The Cedar Rapids Gazette reported this week that the Iowa Senate has passed new laws enshrining further parental control over students education, in part spurred by Februarys litter-box rumors. [56][57], In March 2022, a conservative commentator promoted claims that the Waunakee School District in Wisconsin had a "furry protocol" specifying the rules for furries, including being "allowed to dress in their choice of furry costumes" and "choose not to run in gym class but instead sit at the feet of their teacher and lick their paws". [a][8] In October 2022, in response to a letter that was sent to local media, administrators for the Renfrew County District School Board or Renfrew County Catholic District School Board in Ontario issued statements that their schools "do not have, and have never had, litter boxes in any of our elementary or secondary sites". [It has been] circulating around the internet for more than a decade: This claim that there is a pandemic of furries in schools eating out of dog bowls or barking and hissing in class, said Plante. Associated Press reported that the post was shared more than 10,000 times. [58][59] Joe Seiwert, a Kansas state representative, made a false claim during a public forum. [75] One school in Colorado did admit it had placed buckets of cat litter in classrooms several years prior for a backup option in the event of an emergency lock down, but there was no evidence of any accommodations for furries in Colorado schools. Sometimes they dress up in full costumes (known as fursuits), designed to look like anthropomorphic characters theyve imagined. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. [85] At a campaign event, congresswoman Lauren Boebert alleged that litter boxes were being provided to students who identify as cats in Durango, Colorado, which administrators for the local school district said were untrue. Would you like to receive our Chittenden County news updates? All Rights Reserved. [6], School boards in the late 2010s and early 2020s saw heightened controversy (described by some as a moral panic[31] or culture war[32]) surrounding accomodations for transgender, non-binary, and otherwise gender-variant students, such as unisex restrooms, and allowing students to use bathrooms and participate on sports teams corresponding to their gender identities. A bit of background is necessary here: Furries are not people who think they are animals. For most people furries included these arent exactly conditions that put them in the mood.. Its this connection that concerns Lamoille North superintendent Catherine Gallagher the most, who reiterated her support for the districts LGBTQ community and derided the rumors as harmful. they put litter boxes in the bathroom. It is such a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you.. We'd love to hear eyewitness Low around 30F. [36][37], In 2016, American radio show host Michael L. Brown wrote an opinion piece in The Christian Post opposing to transgender accommodations and gender-affirming procedures, stating, "if we don't stop this downward slide, we might soon be required to provide litter boxes for people who identify as cats. [42] Later in the same month, two Republican lawmakers in the Minnesota House of Representatives, Steve Drazkowski and Tim Miller, repeated debunked stories about schools providing litter boxes in a debate about a statewide student survey. Sharon E. Roberts receives funding from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone. Back in action: Jeopardy contestant from Winston-Salem returns to show, Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years. Its not. [79] Local education officials in South Carolina[80] and Pennsylvania[81] issued public statements to refute local and national rumors that litter boxes were being provided in schools. Is furry an orientation? You have permission to edit this article. [46] The same month, the education director of the Lambton-Kent District School Board dispelled litter box rumors. [35] In 2022, parents and advocacy groups across the U.S. made a concerted push to ban books from libraries, predominantly those discussing race, sexuality, and gender. [22][9][23][21] Some conservative politicians and activists argued that protections for LGBTQ+ students in schools had "gone too far" and that litter box accommodations are what they might lead to next,[24][25] despite there being no confirmed instances of schools providing litter boxes for students to defecate or urinate in, or planning to do so. Jim Baize, who is Ruth Baize's husband, compared furries to gender identity in comments of his own on Monday. "I had a lot of concern about this because it was becoming a distraction to the learning and teaching at some of our schools," he said in an interview with CBC News: Compass host Steve Bruce. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. The current misrepresentation of furriesthat they simply want to be animals and are sexual deviantsdates back decades. Winds light and variable. We do have some specialized cleaning kits specifically for emergency bodily fluid clean up and they do include a granular, absorbent substance that helps absorb and solidify bodily fluid in a safe way. Why are we telling elementary kids that they get to choose their gender this week? Yes. You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. According to the U.S. [8][45] In September 2022, Durham District School Board in Ontario denied rumors and said they "may be rooted in transphobia and homophobia with the intent to diminish and trivialize gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation and cause harm to students and staff who identify as 2SLGBTQI". There never will be," said EVSC Superintendent David Smith, after Monday's board meeting. [71], In August 2022, rumors of litter boxes were directed at two high schools in South Carolina. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Vance (R) Demands Schools Notify Parents If Their Kids Identify As Chipmunks", "Renfrew County boards squelch bizarre stories about kids using litter boxes at school", "How a viral hoax about furries became fodder for the GOP's moral panic", "Furry Panic Is the Latest Dumb GOP Attack on Public Schools", "A student identifies as a cat how stunning and brave", "Op-Ed: Should We Provide Litter Boxes for People Who Identify as Cats? They are broadly recognized as people with varying degrees of aesthetic interest in anthropomorphic animals or characters. WebThe litter boxes in schools hoax (also called the litter box canard) [1] [2] is a false rumor alleging that certain North American schools provide litter boxes in bathrooms for No, neither Lamoille Union High School nor any other school in Lamoille County is providing litter boxes in school bathrooms for the use of students who identify as furries, a term for those interested in dressing up as anthropomorphized animals. What are we doing to our kids? [50] The video was also shared by Libs of TikTok, a politically influential right-wing Twitter account of Chaya Raichik with several hundred-thousand followers. Let me be clear in this communication: There is no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation. [95], American football television commentator Tony Dungy posted statement on twitter promoting the hoax on January 18, 2023. When a clip of the interview circulated widely in the media in October, Thelander said, "I don't believe it now", and that he was unable to corroborate the rumors he had heard from others. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. MIDLAND, Mich. (WILX/Gray News) A superintendent in Michigan is trying to clear up any misconceptions or rumors about a conspiracy theory regarding students who identify as cats.. News, arts, events, community and more from the Vermont Community Newspaper Group. [51][52] The superintendent for the school district of Midland Public Schools described the claims as false, stating "There is no truth whatsoever to this false statement [] There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools". Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. Thank you for reading! Its a TikTok meme, Dunn said. Youre not isolated. ", "Fact Check-No evidence of schools accommodating 'furries' with litter boxes", "Ron Johnson goes on transphobic rant, says trans teens 'think weird things' and are going through 'phases', "New Hampshire Senate race: Maggie Hassan, Don Bolduc debate abortion, inflation, energy - recap", "N.H. school officials push back after Bolduc repeats hoax about kids using litter boxes", "Fact check: Do SLO County schools have litter boxes for students identifying as 'furries'? "[25] Some conservative politicians and alt-right media commentators had used false litter box rumors to generate alarm about what accommodations for LGBTQ+ students might lead to, and have falsely accused LGBT-inclusive educators of "child grooming". [65] School board candidates in Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Dakota also made unverified claims about litter boxes being provided in schools. "[111] Leigh Finke, a transgender candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 2022 election, said about the rumors, "It's a really gross thing no one should have to hear. Administrators for Horry County Schools said the rumors were part of a nationwide hoax and untrue.[72]. I want to be sure that our school is providing the community with opportunities to engage with us. The age-old slippery slope of progressivism acting like an animal? Schools scramble to get ahead of 'furry' internet hoax", "Students in local schools identify as animals but no litter boxes exist", "Lambton school trustee candidate buys into urban myth of students "presenting as cats", "There are no human-size litter boxes in CCRCE schools", "Midland Public Schools December 2021 Board of Education Meeting", "Litter Boxes for Students Who Identify as Furries? Reuters has fact checked claims around furries in U.S. schools in the past and found no evidence of them disrupting classrooms or schools developing a policy of A few flurries or snow showers possible. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. The product of deep reflection, fursonas can represent idealized versions of the self that are imbued with positive characteristics, like being sociable, funny and less anxious. [110], Local LGBTQ+ activists in Prince Edward Island said the October 2021 litter box rumors were a form of internet trolling in an attempt "to make the queer community seem ridiculous, in order to paint all of the community's concerns as absurd". Even that goes way back, per furry news website Dogpatch Press: There were jokes made on 90s internet forums about furries bringing boxes to conventions, as well as 2000s-eras urban legends about baseball teams sharing hotels with furry conventiongoers who were ostensibly making animals noises and leaving used litter boxes everywhere. If you're interested in learning more, click here. Then they hear these rumors about furries and see their kids watching these videos., Old lies and false impressions die hard, and other forms of discrimination tend to reemerge in moments when LGBTQ people are targeted by lawmakers and media personalities. He later said that he had not verified the claim was true prior to sharing it. Vance, Christian talk show host Bill Cunningham said that schools were providing litter boxes for students to defecate in. [99] As rumors spread in April 2022, news fact-checking organization PolitiFact did not find any credible news reports to support the claim that schools were providing litter boxes for students and rated the claim "Pants on Fire!". Jan. 25, 2022. [26] While the fandom is popularly perceived as such, it is not innately sexual or fetishistic. Send me updates about Slate special offers. (That a significant number of furries identify as LGBTQ likely added to the misrepresentation, with homophobia coloring the portrayal of this subculture in the media.). Remember, fursuits are prohibitively expensive, custom made, hard to clean, hot and bulky. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Strike said the key to withstanding it is to find solidarity in ones community: Stay tight to other furs and to friends that are good friends or sympathetic, and just remind yourself that youre supported. Error! Another 50 per cent of furries own furry paraphernalia a furry T-shirt, ears, collar or tail that communicates their furry interests to others. Write: Ask SAM, 418 N. Marshall St., #100, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. [28][29], According to Lynn McNeill, a folklorist at Utah State University, false rumors of furries using litter boxes date back to at least the early 2000s as satire, and became a recurring urban legend. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Duke seeks 16% rate hike to fill $1 billion fuel-cost funding gap. Well, all kinds of people go to conferences; sometimes they have sex there. [8] In the United States, popular media coverage of the hoax originally revolved around a school in Michigan in December 2021, but spread to schools in several other states. Psychology professor Elizabeth Fein, who also researches furries and therians, told Reuters: While therians recognize they have human bodies, they might also feel they have the reincarnated soul of a wolf, or that they have a sense of affinity with cats that is so deep that they are on some level a cat themselves. In March, a seventh grader was suspended from a different Michigan school district for allegedly barking at a classmate, and the superintendent specified that there was a group of children who identify as furry kids. Around that time, a Wisconsin radio show host said a local school district was implementing protocols for students in animal costumes. University of Waterloo provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation CA. [94] As he endorsed two local school board candidates, Indiana Republican state representative Robert Morris falsely claimed schools were providing "litter boxes in bathrooms for students identifying as animals". Students are much more open about who they are and, for the most part, their peers are very accepting and encouraging of them, Pirie said. WebOh come on, everyone knows that litterboxes for furries are made by Prison Industries. Both Dunn and Joe Strike, another furry historian and community member, recalled an infamous 2003 episode of CSI that, in the words of another furry documentarian, portrayed the community as a community of sexual deviants who like to have sex in fur costumes, despite the fact that such fetishists probably represent about 2 percent of the fandom., Strike also pointed to a 2001 Vanity Fair report on a furry convention that served as the basis for many public commentators impressions of furries as people with animal kinks, even as furries themselves claimed that piece painted the community in a completely false light, per BuzzFeed News. [17] In November 2022, Bolduc said during a televised debate that the burden was on the school to proof that litter boxes were not being used;[91] the school named by Bolduc confirmed it was a false allegation. Not So, Says School Official", "Colorado GOP Governor Candidate Latest To Fall For Student 'Furries' HoaxHere's How Many Others Have Been Duped", "Meet the woman behind Libs of TikTok, secretly fueling the right's outrage machine", "School district denies wild rumours that litter boxes were given to students who identified as 'furries', "Texas GOP hopeful claims school district has special tables for 'furries', "Furries eating out of dog bowls at school? The litter boxes in schools hoax (also called the litter box canard)[1][2] is a false rumor alleging that certain North American schools provide litter boxes in bathrooms for students who "identify as cats", or who participate in the furry or otherkin subcultures. Also in March, a recording of a Republican Nebraska state senator decrying school administrators wanting to put litter boxes in the bathrooms for kids who dress up as animals went viral, and the lawmaker had to apologize after his claim was debunked. 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