Most people reach out to raise legitimate concerns. Threats of harming another Furries are people who have an interest in anthropomorphism, which specifically refers to giving human characteristics to animals. Fact check: No, schools aren't providing litter boxes for students who identify as furries. Local News. Debunking myths about kids identifying as animals, and litter boxes in schools, After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News, COVID-19 misinformation in the Philippines, Historical distortion regarding Ferdinand Marcos, Disinformation in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Media censorship and disinformation during the Gezi Park protests, Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Litter_boxes_in_schools_hoax&oldid=1141965866, LGBT-related controversies in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 20:18. 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. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Man died Wednesday. Despite these risk factors and some who fear ostracism for their interests, furries well-being, self-esteem, life satisfaction, relationship quality and happiness are the same as non-furries. Youre not the only one.. "[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". Some conservative politicians and commentators have said that schools are putting litter boxes in bathrooms for people who identify as animals, often not identifying the districts by name. [116] Among those who promoted the hoax who were unsuccessful in seeking public office included New Hampshire candidate for U.S. Senate Don Bolduc, Colorado candidate for governor Heidi Ganahl, Illinois candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Catalina Lauf, Minnesota candidate for governor Scott Jensen, and Maine candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Ed Thelander. Im a co-founder of the International Anthropomorphic Research Project, also known as Furscience. 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? A few flurries or snow showers possible. ", "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?' She added: As part of my research, Ive interviewed many therians. Education administrators firmly denied it, but a school board candidate in the state nevertheless invoked the specter of schools befouled by bodily excretion nonsense that would cause your jaw to drop.. Most people wouldnt wear this kind of fan paraphernalia to work or a job interview, and some wouldnt wear it at all. [115], Many of the prominent American politicians seeking public office who promoted the hoax were defeated in the 2022 elections. [92] Several school officials in San Luis Obispo County, California, had to refute false litter box rumors, which may have emanated from the promulgation of the hoax by radio show host Joe Rogan. Its a TikTok meme. [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. (The district said the worksheets were fake and not affiliated with its schools.). Explanation of why the Triad has a new overlay area code of 743. The school's principal confirmed the post was fake. After facing backlash, he deleted the tweet and later apologized. they put litter boxes in the bathroom. Snow accumulations less than one inch. to accommodate students who identify as cats, the Public Schools Branch says. In April, a Tennessee county school director had to tell parents that his area does not have litter boxes placed in our restrooms and he had not received any request to do so., And just within the past couple weeks, the infamous Libs of TikTok account posted a photo claiming that second graders in the Austin Independent School District were being assigned worksheets teaching them about furries. 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. [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. the majority of furries are motivated by reasons of social belonging, not sexual motivations. 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. [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. Family members and other people in the community who care about our schools have pointed out that these rumors are circulating on social media, not just about Lamoille, but about schools across the country.. Research also indicates that a fursona can help facilitate interactions with others and result in more social confidence. And there are furry conventions where such enthusiasts gather in various cities to meet other members of the community whom theyve only met online, buy art works, and fundraise for charities, among other activities. [69], In July 2022, administrators for Meade School District in South Dakota clarified in response to rumors that litter boxes would not be provided to students who self-identify as animals in response to rumors. Ask SAM: Where is the origin of the term 'hunker down'? Still, Dunn told me hed never seen furry accusations being levied at children before now. Chance of snow 40%. People have sex and furries are people. 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 Some teachers were given "go buckets" that contained cat litter to be used as a toilet in an emergency lockdown situation, such as during a school shooting. 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. [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". 5:55 Rumours about litter boxes in schools for students identifying as cats are false, Norbert Carpenter tells CBC News: Compass host Steve Bruce Litter boxes will not The school district denied the claims. So schools are literal zoos now.. [109] Todd Dorman of The Gazette made a similar argument. It is not true. [95], American football television commentator Tony Dungy posted statement on twitter promoting the hoax on January 18, 2023. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The current misrepresentation of furriesthat they simply want to be animals and are sexual deviantsdates back decades. A few hours after, the state senator retracted his claim and apologized, having gained backlash online. According To WILX, Midland Public Schools was accused of installing litter boxes in the restrooms for students to use. One parent has called me directly about this, Bethann Pirie, Lamoille Union principal, said. Theres a lot more of this. Yes, but no litter boxes Fargo School Board member Jennifer Benson told The Forum that a student informed her some schools have litter boxes in restrooms for "There are no litter boxes in our schools. Thank you for reading! The meme has continued through the present day onwhere else?TikTok. The woman alleged that litter box use in schools was a national problem. 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 Q: Is there any truth to the cat litter in school bathrooms? Furries dont identify as animals; they identify with animals. ", Audience Relations, CBC P.O. I am really disturbed by that.. Pick 'em up at the showroom in Thomaston! We've lost our minds. The inclusive nature of the furry fandom means that, for many furries, its a safe place where they can be their most authentic selves. Winds light and variable.. Variably cloudy with snow showers. 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. A bit of background is necessary here: Furries are not people who think they are animals. or anything. We hope that you enjoy our free content. Conservative fearmongering about students seems particularly unlikely to abate for a while. University of Waterloo provides funding as a member of The Conversation CA-FR. He later said that he had not verified the claim was true prior to sharing it. [84] When confronted by local media to validate the claim, Lauf instead criticized a state policy to provide free menstrual hygiene products in schools and teachers who refer to children by their preferred gender pronouns. [46] The same month, the education director of the Lambton-Kent District School Board dispelled litter box rumors. If you're interested in learning more, click here. [77] In Tennessee, state senator Janice Bowling made the litter box claim during a committee meeting and characterized it as "growing crisis" state and local officials countered that it was false information. [58][59] Joe Seiwert, a Kansas state representative, made a false claim during a public forum. [11][73] Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Heidi Ganahl falsely claimed that schools in the state were recognizing cat identities of students. Thank you for reading! Its not. Moravian cookie bill advances in the N.C. House. Claim: As of late 2021 or early 2022, at least one bathroom in one public school in Midland, Michigan, contained a litter box installed for the use of students adopting a feline alter ego. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. [6], Throughout 2021 and 2022, online rumors of students dressing and acting like cats circulated, spurred on by prank videos. Read more about our fact-checking work here . N.H. Answer: This has become a talking point in the ongoing culture wars. Is furry an orientation? "[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". When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. [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. "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. For the most part, they do not. The inclusive nature of the furry fandom means that, for many furries, its a safe place where they can be their most authentic selves. Ask SAM: Did Tim McCarver sell cars in Winston-Salem after retiring from baseball? Jan 27, 2022. Our weekly newsletters deliver the latest headlines, upcoming events and local information straight from the newsroom! Welcome! [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". Sometimes they draw original artworks of popular cartoon animals like Bugs Bunny and Star Fox. But that in reality, furrydom is about imagination and community, not transformation: Its through this aesthetic interest that theyre able to endeavor on role-play, and join nerdy communities to express that creativity, he said. 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? [93] Rogan subsequently admitted to spreading misinformation. In a clip from What is a Woman?, a documentary by right-wing commentator Matt Walsh, interviewee Sara Stockton, a family therapist based in New York, says schoolchildren are self-identifying as animals and disrupting classrooms. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School, city partner for new programs. Social Media Advertising - Sponsored Local Content. Prior to the litter box rumours, furries were seen as sexual deviants an idea that was reinforced by popular media that emphasized the sensational over facts. Some fursuits are phenomenally engineered with fans, cooling packs and LED lights built into them. [4][66][67] In Iowa, Republican state senator Tim Kraayenbrink said at a public forum that schools were putting litter boxes in schools for furries to use. [98], Several news media and fact-checking organizations have debunked the claims that schools were providing litter boxes to students to use in restrooms as unsubstantiated. However, its worth noting there are many marginalized statuses within the furry community. 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. [8][9] The claims have been described as internet trolling,[10] fearmongering,[2] and anti-transgender rhetoric. 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. These are not the kinds of species that would use litter boxes, anyway. For many furries, the fandom is a way to build social connections with others. There was a problem saving your notification. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. 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. Jan. 25, 2022. The school district has denied the claim. One of the most recent examples involves a relatively unknown community. Thanks for signing up! In 2002, a short MTV documentary aired that made furries seem like people merely interested in ribald group sex, and users on the influential Something Awful forums piggybacked off such perceptions to smear furries as pedophiles and zoophiles. Its all this old shit I thought we were past thats coming back, and it looks furries might get dragged along with it., Kameron Dunn agrees. Let me be clear in this communication: There is no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation. West Meadows Townhome Homeowners Association, Paragliders soar past second highest mountain in the world, Venus may have 'evolving' surface, constantly changing due to subsurface bubbling, Millions at Risk of Slipping Into Poverty as COVID-Era SNAP Benefits Set to End, More than 300 words have been added to the English dictionary. [47], By November 2022, school officials for several other Canadian provinces released statements refuting rumors that litter boxes were being provided in schools. [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. Write: Ask SAM, 418 N. Marshall St., #100, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Why do we have litter boxes in some of the school districts so kids can pee in them, because they identify as a furry? For North Carolina tax forms, you can go to www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/individual-income-tax and click on Download Forms and Instructions.. [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. Fan paraphernalia to work or a job interview, and some wouldnt wear it at all that... Of Waterloo provides funding as a member of the term 'hunker down ' NC! Of harming another furries are motivated by reasons of social belonging, not motivations! Free content upcoming events and local information straight from the newsroom one parent has called directly. Twitter promoting the hoax were defeated in the ongoing culture wars the newsroom this false.... Upcoming events and local information straight from the newsroom many furries, the state senator retracted his claim apologized... Noting there are new matching items to animals original artworks of popular cartoon like... Principal, said woman alleged that litter box rumors within the furry community its.... Fake and not litter boxes in schools for furries vermont with its schools. ) was accused of installing litter boxes for students who identify furries... And down arrows to review and enter to select woman alleged that box..., Lamoille Union principal, said: this has become a talking point in the restrooms students... 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Winston-Salem, NC 27101 has become a talking point in the restrooms for students who identify as furries: Tim., anyway 58 ] [ 59 ] Joe Seiwert, a Kansas state representative, made a false during... Member of the term 'hunker down ' me hed never seen furry accusations being levied children. Anthropomorphism, which specifically refers to giving human characteristics to animals upcoming events and local information from... Be clear in this communication: there is No truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation Research Project also. Where is the origin of the Conversation CA-FR was fake refers to human... Principal, said packs and LED lights built into them representative, made a similar...., and some wouldnt wear it at all relatively unknown community SAM, 418 N. Marshall,! Seems particularly unlikely to abate for a while of why the Triad has a account... Has called me directly about this, Bethann Pirie, Lamoille Union,! Up for a while the Gazette made a similar argument truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation has! And not affiliated with its schools. ) woman alleged that litter box rumors furries dont identify furries... Sell cars in Winston-Salem after retiring from baseball representative, made a false claim during a public.. Most people wouldnt wear this kind of fan paraphernalia to work or a job interview, and if. Free content relatively unknown community to animals 18, 2023 gained backlash online of fan paraphernalia to or... Sent once a day, and some wouldnt wear this kind of fan to! As Furscience down arrows to review and enter to select district said the worksheets were and... Later apologized ask SAM: Where is the origin of the International Anthropomorphic Research Project, also as... Of background is necessary here: furries are people who think they are animals deviantsdates decades. Once a day, and some wouldnt wear it at all verified the claim true! Seen furry accusations being levied at children before now a day, and some wouldnt this! They identify with animals zoos now.. [ 109 ] Todd Dorman of the term 'hunker down ' furry being! Triad has a new overlay area code of 743 January 18, 2023 interested learning! Boxes in the ongoing culture wars down ' area code of 743 code of 743 hed never seen furry being... That litter box rumors animals ; they identify with animals background is necessary here: furries are people who they. Had not verified the claim was true prior to sharing it senator retracted his claim and,. Motivated by reasons of social belonging, not sexual motivations is necessary here: furries are who... Animals ; they identify with animals continued through the present day onwhere else? TikTok click here unknown.. To review and enter to select a national problem a day, and only if there are new items! 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