Q: Is there any truth to the cat litter in school bathrooms? Don't threaten. "[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". [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. You have permission to edit this article. And while litter boxes are most commonly used by domestic cats in real life, most furry avatars (i.e., the characters who humans are playing) are animals that wouldn't [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!". Associated Press reported that the post was shared more than 10,000 times. [48], In December 2021, conservative activist Lisa Hansen[6] in Michigan gave public testimony before the Midland Public Schools school board as it discussed COVID-19 testing requirements for students,[13] claiming she was informed that litter boxes had been added in bathrooms for students who "identify as cats", along with claiming that it was a "nationwide" issue and that there was an "agenda that is being pushed". The district's superintendent denied this claim, stating "Staff members are not encouraging or accommodating anyone behaving or identifying as a cat or any other animal". Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Furries do a similar thing, but with a twist. Outrage and fearmongering over furries is not new, but the recent hysteria is very connected with our current momentreignited, perhaps, by the current vogue for lamenting woke school curriculum, and giving parents greater control over their kids education. [114], In the months leading up to the 2022 United States elections, mentions online of the litter boxes in schools increased significantly as several Republican candidates repeated the hoax and had it amplified by talk show hosts such as Joe Rogan. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Welcome! Send me updates about Slate special offers. Thank you for signing in! [62], In April 2022, a satirical post of a fake e-mail went viral, claiming that Kokomo High School in Indiana was allowing students identifying as animals to have "special accommodations and certain privileges", including litter boxes in bathrooms. If you're interested in learning more, click here. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. "[106] Christopher Tremoglie of the conservative website Washington Examiner said that rumors in mid 2022 of litter boxes in Iowa schools were false. 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. [103] Hayes Brown, an MSNBC opinion columnist, said it was unclear if politicians spreading the rumors actually believed them or not, but that either way the act of repeating the rumors was "to the detriment of trans kids". By Jessica Marie they put litter boxes in the bathroom. In the same way that cosplayers typically dont believe they are actually Spiderman, furries dont think they are their fursonas. Rumours about litter boxes in schools for students identifying as cats are false, Norbert Carpenter tells CBC News: Compass host Steve Bruce, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. Thank you for reading! Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow sent a message to the school district to address the claim. Bronski agreed that children identifying as animals and disrupting classrooms was not a genuine phenomenon. The claims made by [Stockton] about the prevalence and social respectability of therianthropy are not supported by any of the social scientific research that has been done on the topic, by our team or by others, said Fein. And they are purring instead of answering questions and they miaow and the teachers are not allowed to question it because its considered a queer identity., Walsh responds: The teachers have to affirm them as a cat? Rumors persist: Kids arent using litter boxes, school officials say, Morrisville Walgreens to close amid state scrutiny, Elmore resident, Stowe High grad dies in ski accident, Why Vermont can evict Vail from Mount Mansfield, Neighbors protest alternative cell tower location, Student challenges educator for Lamoille South school board, Lamoille County Sheriffs Department statistics, Feb. 10-16, Students cry foul on college cuts to programs, Early morning fire on Spear Street totals new housing development. School board proposes banning furries after rumors of litter boxes in schools spread LGBTQNation 10/25/2022 A school board in North Carolina considered a proposal Will This Make Biden Acknowledge the Supreme Court Is Out of Control? Have you met sports fans who wear their teams jersey at a special event, such as a game, or a music fan who wears their favourite bands branded T-shirt? [108] Kathie Obradovich, a opinion editor with the Iowa Capital Dispatch, argued that the litter box hoax served the political purpose of instilling fear in parents of public schools as a way to shift public education dollars towards private and religious schools. But thats not quite right. The same falsehood also circulated in an Iowa district, and a congressional candidate in Texas tweeted that school cafeteria tables were being lowered to accommodate students identifying as furries. Renfrew County Catholic District School Board, "Silly school litter box rumors front a darker agenda", "LGBTQ+ youth are target of a massive fear-mongering campaign", "GOP Gubernatorial Hopefuls Regurgitate 'Students Identifying as Cats' Smear - Truth or Fiction? [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. It would be like trying to have sex wearing a winter coat inside a spacesuit. Success! 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. The fandom provides a social network for its members, and furries can benefit tremendously from these friendships. Furries are a fandom, like anime, Star Trek or football. According to the U.S. [7] Rumors sparked public outcry and calls for administrative action from concerned parents,[38] with a school board in Statesville, North Carolina proposing a formal ban on animal costumes. 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[96][97], In January 2023, Aberdeenshire council repudiated claims made on social media that students at Banff Academy had taken part in dirty protests due to the non-provision of litter boxes for "furries". They might dress up as a storm trooper or superhero and attend a comic book convention to have fun with friends. Notice the language that some of these politicians use, he told me. Error! Explanation of where the old term 'hunker down' came from. Obviously, its not true, so I dont know where people are coming up with this stuff.. Very important to address every students needs.. 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? University of Waterloo provides funding as a member of The Conversation CA-FR. Kameron Dunn, a furries expert and researcher whos previously written about these subcultures for Slate, explained that theres a common misconception that furries pretend to be animals because of sick sexual fetishes. [21], The hoax spread in North America largely as backlash against recognition of gender variance in schools. A state senator recently claimed that schools were putting litter boxes in bathrooms to accommodate students that identify as furries. ", "GOP legislator backtracks on claims students meow, bark, use litter boxes", "Minnesota GOP nominee for governor claimed kids are using litter boxes in schools it's an internet hoax", "How an urban myth about litter boxes in schools became a GOP talking point", "Did a Michigan School District Install Litter Boxes in Bathrooms? [78] In Rhode Island, Mary Brimer, a Republican town council member for North Kingstown, posted on social media that two local students were identifying as cats and were being accommodated with litter boxes in school restrooms the superintendent of the local school district said the rumors were false. Many feel a pervasive sense of discomfort with their own human bodies.. He later said that he had not verified the claim was true prior to sharing it. schools meant to ridicule trans community, advocates say", "Litter Boxes and Election Lies: Marjorie Taylor Greene's Unhinged Trip to the Trump Rally", "Anti-trans litter box rumor is 'harming our LGBTQ+ kids,' advocates say", "Transphobes Are Worried Schools Are Installing Litterboxes for "Furry" Students", "Andrew Mullin: Recent Midland 'furry' scare is transphobia in disguise", "Rumours about students identifying as cats are rooted in hate, says P.E.I. Legitimate concerns can help our school community grow, whereas these sorts of rumors really hurt our school community, she said. [16][6][86] In North Carolina, Iredell-Statesville Schools considered a ban on students wearing furry costumes, in part due to the burden of staff having to refute unsubstantiated rumors about litter boxes in restrooms. For North Carolina tax forms, you can go to www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/individual-income-tax and click on Download Forms and Instructions.. Why are we telling elementary kids that they get to choose their gender this week? Local News. [63][64] In New York, administrators for Dansville Central School refuted litter box rumors after an Instagram post received thousands of views. I am really disturbed by that.. Furries are people with an interest in anthropomorphism, who may create their own alternative animal personality known as a fursona. For more information, see the International Anthropomorphic Research Project, also known as Furscience, a group of interdisciplinary professors who have researched anthropomorphic identities for more than 15 years and studied over 40,000 furries (furscience.com/whats-a-furry/). Ask SAM: Are there really litter boxes in school restrooms? [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. The school's principal confirmed the post was fake. Cleveland Avenue Homes is being torn down. Be truthful. There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools. VERDICT False. (The district said the worksheets were fake and not affiliated with its schools.). Im a co-founder of the International Anthropomorphic Research Project, also known as Furscience. 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. [6], Throughout 2021 and 2022, online rumors of students dressing and acting like cats circulated, spurred on by prank videos. Sign up today! 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? [20] During a tele-town hall with U.S. While sex can certainly be a part of the furry fandom, the majority of furries are motivated by reasons of social belonging, not sexual motivations. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, a participant shared a rumor that litter boxes were being placed in West Bend schools. Litter boxes will not be put in schools on P.E.I. Fursuits are usually worn on special occasions a parade, meet-up or convention. The woman alleged that litter box use in schools was a national problem. [93] Rogan subsequently admitted to spreading misinformation. ", "Conservatives Are Obsessed With This Lie About Students Identifying as Furries", "Folklorist: Sky View High School litter box rumor follows pattern of 'urban legends', "Opinion | America Is Being Consumed by a Moral Panic Over Trans People", "Culture wars take center stage in Tudor Dixon's education proposals", "Trans athletes, book bans: How school elections became political battlefields", "Did Salem-Keizer allow a student who identifies as a cat to bring a litter box to school? There was an error processing your request. Don Bolduc, Republican candidate for New Hampshire senator, is one of the latest conservative politicians to repeat the hearsay that schools are providing litter boxes The most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday. Research also indicates that a fursona can help facilitate interactions with others and result in more social confidence. [30] Sharon Roberts, a faculty member at Renison University College and co-founder of a furry research group called Furscience, had not, in a decade of researching furry conventions, encountered any instances of furries using litter boxes. And such an identity would not be protected by law.. [68], In June 2022, social media posts in Hannibal, Missouri, falsely claimed that the school district was placing water bowls and cat litter boxes in school restrooms and that the issue would be discussed at an upcoming board meeting. Its a fandom. She added: As part of my research, Ive interviewed many therians. Pirie invited anyone with questions or concerns to reach out to her directly. "[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". Pick 'em up at the showroom in Thomaston! [6][20], Furries are a subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters, with fandom members frequently often interacting with others through online roleplay, art, conventions and cosplay. In late October, Don Bolduc, the Republican U.S. Senate nominee in New Hampshire, claimed schools were offering litter boxes for students who identified as cats 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. For many furries, the fandom is a way to build social connections with others. Superintendent debunks claims of litter boxes in schools for students who identify as cats In a message to the school district, Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow [6] A review of the rumors by center-right news website The Bulwark reached a similar conclusion as NBC News and referred to the hoax as "Furrygate". [47], By November 2022, school officials for several other Canadian provinces released statements refuting rumors that litter boxes were being provided in schools. "It seemed to me like it was a backlash against some of the progressive things that our schools are doing, and we would have many that would say this is rooted in hate and transphobia and homophobia and that message needs to be clear, it's not acceptable. "I think a lot of people thought this was a joke, and it's not a joke.". It is convenient fearmongering that coincides easily both with the hysteria over race-conscious curricula and the rise in state laws targeting LGBTQ students, especially transgender children. Two months ago, someone asked me about that via email and asked if it was true, Heraty said. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. Attempts by the news media to debunk false rumors were largely unsuccessful in stopping their spread. There is a real subculture of people known as furries, a community of children and adults who roleplay as anthropomorphized animal characters.But the vast majority of them still identify as humans, while sometimes adopting an animal-like persona and engaging in short-term roleplay, according to furries and experts, one of whom noted that there are no None of them have ever reported feeling like their teachers or anyone else in their life were expected by society to respect their queer identity. Social Media Advertising - Sponsored Local Content. Thank you for reading! In February, the Daily Beast reported that some Pennsylvania-based school board attendees who supported book bans on certain subjects also taunted other parents about their children being furries. No school ever had litter boxes for students who identify as animals. "[24], In an opinion article in the Arizona Daily Star, Judy Doll argued that Republican politicians were using the litter box hoax as a way to call "into question the moral values of everyone associated with public schools". Remember, fursuits are prohibitively expensive, custom made, hard to clean, hot and bulky. Im staying calm, but Im not happy about it, she said. Deputies in Davidson County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they'd found unresponsive in his house following a welfare check. Schools all over are being forced to deal with parents angry about furries & litter boxes. [26] While the fandom is popularly perceived as such, it is not innately sexual or fetishistic. When school districts are named, all the districts have denied that they have litter boxes in bathrooms. Despite how silly this might sound to many, multiple tips and calls received by this newspaper in the past six months have inquired whether this rumor was true. [60] In North Dakota, Fargo School Board member Jennifer Benson said litter boxes had been placed in school restrooms, but she declined to present evidence of it when requested by local media, and school officials in Fargo and elsewhere in North Dakota said the claim was the result of false rumors being spread nationally. In most instances, the rumors emanate from right-wing echo chambers and other conservative officials, connecting acceptance of furries to the broader culture war about accommodating transgender youth in schools. After the rumors spread widely in schools and on social media, the Public Schools Branch denied claims of litter boxes, with the director of the school district saying "It seemed to me like it was a backlash against some of the progressive things that our schools are doing, and we would have many that would say this is rooted in hate". While many furries have no interest in acquiring a fursuit at all, they can also be prohibitively expensive. That substance is not cat litter or litter of any kind and is only used in emergency situations specifically designed for safe clean up.. Be nice. 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. We encountered an issue signing you up. [5] Jensen said: "But what about education? WebA Michigan school district has debunked a wild claim that a school provided litter boxes for students who identified as "furries" people who dress up as anthropomorphic animals. 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. Monique Curet , PolitiFact. Photos by Getty Images Plus. Thanks for signing up! 69-year-old suffers stroke in his home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. A bit of background is necessary here: Furries are not people who think they are animals. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. She is a co-founder of the International Anthropomorphic Research Project/Furscience. For federal tax forms, you can go to www.usa.gov/get-tax-forms#item-35432 and print out various federal tax forms and instructions, including the 1040 form. Join our group of dedicated readers today Plan a magical wedding day in Vermont, whether ablaze with fall color, capped with snow, or lush with the green of summer. On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. [6], In May 2022, during a televised debate on a bill in the Nebraska legislature, the Republican state senator Bruce Bostelman claimed that "schools are wanting to put litter boxes in the schools" for students who were furries. Copyright 2022 WILX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. You can find similarand very recentstories out of Missouri, Illinois, North Dakota, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and more. Snow accumulations less than one inch. 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. [100] Two fact-checking assessment by Reuters, in July 2022 and again in October 2022, concluded that there was no evidence that schools were officially recognizing the animal expressions of students participating in the furry fandom trend or accommodating students with litter boxes. that is degrading to another person. [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". In January, a Michigan public school district had to issue a denial to a parents claim that it was providing litter boxes in unisex bathrooms to children who identified as Three school-age furries told NBC News they have at times dressed up at school, typically wearing just part of their full costume such as a mask or gloves that look like paws, but theyd never heard of any furry ever asking for a litter box., NBC News talked with Kymera, a 14-year-old from Colorado who said she considers being a furry is just a hobby, akin to being a mascot., I have never once heard a furry say they want to use a litter box, Kymera said. Many of the litter box rumours also fixate on cats. Jim Baize, who is Ruth Baize's husband, compared furries to gender identity in comments of his own on Monday. All Rights Reserved. State finds issues with public records, open meetings and handling of contract for lawyer, Diamondback to open lunch spot in Innovation Quarter. ", Audience Relations, CBC P.O. At least 20 conservative candidates and elected officials have claimed this year that K-12 schools are placing litter boxes on campus or making other accommodations for I heard that at least one of our schools in our town has in one of the unisex bathrooms, a litter box for the kids that identify as cats, a concerned parent claimed during a Board of Education meeting in December. Im not a furry, and I once held erroneous views of furries, too. Carpenter said children in schools express themselves in many ways, but the rumours of students identifying as cats appears to be "rooted in hate. [6] By that same month, local school officials in Maine and Vermont had also dispelled litter box rumors. Lamoille South Unified Union Superintendent Ryan Heraty has heard the rumors too. Youre not the only one.. [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. ", "School district denies litter boxes for students identifying as 'furries', "Herald Sun story about schoolgirl identifying as a cat goes viral but lacks evidence", "Local Opinion: Kids get schooled in politics", "School litter box fever will not die in Iowa", "ICYMI NBC: 20+ Politicians Promote Bizarre Claim That Youth Are Identifying as Cats", "Jensen spreads false rumor about Minnesota's LGBTQ+ youth", "School installs litter boxes and promises more cat-friendly policies after increase in 'feline-identifying' students", "John Oliver Exposes GOP's Most 'Heartbreakingly Stupid' Anti-Trans Talking Point", "Debunking, rebuttals didn't stop claim about litter boxes in schools from spreading before midterms", "These Candidates Pushed 2022's Dumbest ConspiracySchoolkids Using Litter BoxesAnd Many (But Not All) Lost Big", "Lindsey Graham Says Midterm Elections Are 'Definitely Not a Republican Wave, That's for Darn Sure', 9 questions about furries you were too embarrassed to ask, Fur-mongering: Fake news about children 'identifying' as animals is the latest stunt being pushed by so-called parental rights advocates, Colorado GOP Governor Candidate Latest To Fall For Student 'Furries' HoaxHere's How Many Others Have Been Duped, The 'Litter Box in Schools' Lie Is a Litmus Test for Idiots, What are 'furries?' So schools are literal zoos now.. Furries are people who have an interest in anthropomorphism, which specifically refers to giving human characteristics to animals. [101][89] According to an NBC News analysis, by mid October 2022, at least 20 conservative candidates and election officials had asserted that elementary and secondary schools were providing litter boxes or other accommodations for students who identify as catsevery school district named in such claims said they were false. Midland Ive heard this and find it hard to believe. Be proactive. Were a small group of interdisciplinary professors who have studied furries and other fan groups for more than 15 years. There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools, Sharrow wrote. 10 Insomniac132 1 yr. ago The BIW furriesthe The man's famil, Portions of Burke and First streets remained closed most of the day Monday while police investigated an early-morning shooting outside Gatsby.