", Audience Relations, CBC P.O. [87] The school district, along with nearby Lincoln County Schools, said there was no evidence of litter boxes being used on campuses. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. And I don't want to waste my time saying trans kids aren't animals. 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. Depending on the study, we find more than 70 per cent of furries identify as LGBTQ+ and more than 25 per cent are gender-identity diverse. 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 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. [95], American football television commentator Tony Dungy posted statement on twitter promoting the hoax on January 18, 2023. 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. Our weekly newsletters deliver the latest headlines, upcoming events and local information straight from the newsroom! [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. "[13] Geoff Wetrosky of the Human Rights Campaign, said, "The attention this freakish lie has received on social media illustrates the pernicious influence of disinformation and that anti-LGBTQ+ politicians will do and say anything to animate the most extreme fringeno matter the consequence. Elections: What EVSC school board candidates say about diversity, inclusion and masks. The rumor has caused a stir in schools in Texas, Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa and other states across the country, prompting school officials to address it with families and school boards, just as Pirie plans to with the Lamoille North Supervisory Union board. But are litter boxes an integral part of the furry fandom? Many people think that furries dress up as animals. According To WILX, Midland Public Schools was accused of installing litter boxes in the restrooms for students to use. [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". Research also indicates that a fursona can help facilitate interactions with others and result in more social confidence. [26] While the fandom is popularly perceived as such, it is not innately sexual or fetishistic. Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone. University of Waterloo provides funding as a member of The Conversation CA-FR. "There are no litter boxes in our schools. [70] In Maine, Republican Congressional candidate Ed Thelander repeated the hoax in an interview for a far-right website. 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. There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools, Sharrow wrote. Legitimate concerns can help our school community grow, whereas these sorts of rumors really hurt our school community, she said. 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. 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. Winds light and variable.. Variably cloudy with snow showers. 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/). Weve never observed litter boxes at any of the dozens of furry conventions weve attended internationally. Schools all over are being forced to deal with parents angry about furries & litter boxes. Its a TikTok meme, Dunn said. [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". Pirie invited anyone with questions or concerns to reach out to her directly. There was an error processing your request. [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. Some fursuits are phenomenally engineered with fans, cooling packs and LED lights built into them. 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. There never will be," said EVSC Superintendent David Smith, after Monday's board meeting. 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. According to experts, furries primarily consider their expression as a fandom done for fun, not an official identity, contrary to the claims made in this video circulating online. Im staying calm, but Im not happy about it, she said. When school districts are named, all the districts have denied that they have litter boxes in bathrooms. ", "DDSB among boards quashing online rumours litter boxes have been added to washrooms", "False stories of litter boxes in P.E.I. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Be truthful. accounts, the history behind an article. Sign up today! [63][64] In New York, administrators for Dansville Central School refuted litter box rumors after an Instagram post received thousands of views. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Low around 30F. 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 J.B. Answer: The IRS and N.C. Department of Revenue have the forms available on their websites and they can be printed them out from your home computer. Most people wouldnt wear this kind of fan paraphernalia to work or a job interview, and some wouldnt wear it at all. Anything is possible and I cant disprove a negative. You can cancel at any time. Notice the language that some of these politicians use, he told me. [40] There was no evidence, however, that any schools had provided litter boxes in restrooms to any students. Thank you for reading! No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism They are broadly recognized as people with varying degrees of aesthetic interest in anthropomorphic animals or characters. [105] Columnist Gene Lyons in a Chicago Sun-Times opinion piece compared the litter box hoax to the moral panics behind the 16th century werewolves tales in Germany and the witch hunts of 17th century New England. The woman alleged that litter box use in schools was a national problem. A list of players on the local Minor League Baseball team who had successful Major League Baseball careers. [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. There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools. VERDICT False. You can find similarand very recentstories out of Missouri, Illinois, North Dakota, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and more. 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. Furries dont identify as animals; they identify with animals. Man died Wednesday. (The district said the worksheets were fake and not affiliated with its schools.). A few hours after, the state senator retracted his claim and apologized, having gained backlash online. While many furries have no interest in acquiring a fursuit at all, they can also be prohibitively expensive. After facing backlash, he deleted the tweet and later apologized. This whole furry thing has just got me. racist or sexual language. [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. The enabling of this behavior is [helping] people with legitimate mental health issues get applause instead of the medical help they truly need. [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". [18] During an interview with Ohio Republican Senate candidate J.D. 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. Having a fursona doesnt mean that a furry owns a fursuit (a mascot-like outfit), and only 15 to 25 per cent of furries have them. 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 {{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. All Rights Reserved. The age-old slippery slope of progressivism acting like an animal? 19-year-old charged with murder. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. [93] Rogan subsequently admitted to spreading misinformation. If your knowledge of furries comes mostly from television or social media, then what youve heard about furries is probably wrong. 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. Rogan offered no evidence to support the claim,[89] which was circulated on social media and shared on Instagram by the Libs of TikTok account. [49] The rumors later gained traction in January 2022, after a video of the school board meeting was shared by Meshawn Maddock, the co-chair for the Michigan Republican Party, who promoted the rumors. [54][55], In February 2022, the Carroll Community School District in Iowa was accused of providing litter boxes for those who identified as cats. Reuters has sought comment from Stockton, who has provided no evidence to support her claim. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. 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. "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. Co-founder of Furscience, Courtney Plante, told Reuters, Furries are fans, just like any other fan group, adding, Furries are no more likely to think that theyre animals than sport fans are to think that theyre their favorite teams quarterback.. Although many furries identify closely with an original character (fursona), many view their participation in the fandom solely as a hobby, and do not necessarily identify as or perceive themselves to be animals. Youre not the only one.. Rumours about students identifying as cats are rooted in hate, says P.E.I. Will This Make Biden Acknowledge the Supreme Court Is Out of Control? For North Carolina tax forms, you can go to www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/individual-income-tax and click on Download Forms and Instructions.. 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 Fact check: No, schools aren't providing litter boxes for students who identify as furries. Thank you for reading! [20] Several parents of school-age children have amplified the hoax on social media websites such as Facebook. So schools are literal zoos now.. Ask SAM: Where is the origin of the term 'hunker down'? [113] Television show host John Oliver debunked litter box claims on the episode of Last Week Tonight that aired on October 24, 2022. But first, Winston-Salem officials are documenting its history. 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. We've lost our minds. [115], Many of the prominent American politicians seeking public office who promoted the hoax were defeated in the 2022 elections. Yes, but no litter boxes", "High school principal says there's no truth to rumor of litter boxes for student said to self-identify as a cat", "Post about Indiana school's 'otherkin' policy is satirical", "Fake post about litter boxes at KHS goes viral", "Republicans falsely claim schools are providing litter boxes for students identifying as cats", "Nebraska lawmaker apologizes for debunked litter box claim", "Republican senator apologises for pedalling 'ugly' rumour about furries and litter boxes", "No, Maine students aren't using litter boxes in school", "Hannibal School Board adopts vaping policy and learns its school restrooms are furry-free", "Congressional candidate touted debunked myths, but now says it was a mistake", "Fact check: No, Horry schools did not provide litter boxes for students who identify as cats", "Marjorie Taylor Greene spouts debunked right-wing conspiracies at Pennsylvania rally", "Ganahl Falsely Claims That Kids Are 'Identifying as Cats All Over Colorado & Schools Are Tolerating It', "Ohio Board of Education Delays Vote on Anti LGBTQ+ Resolution", "Tennessee school officials: No, we did not give litter boxes to students identifying as furries", "NK school officials deny claims of litter boxes in schools", "School districts address 'false rumors' of students using litter boxes, behaving like cats", "Principals respond after 'kitty litter' hoax hits school district in Indiana County", "Scott Jensen repeats debunked claim about litter boxes in schools", "Scott Jensen repeats right-wing hoax about cat litter in schools", "Replying to @KFILEAndrew with all due respect, this is not a hoax and is happening in schools in Illinois, too", "Republican congressional candidate Lauf stands by debunked claim about schools and litter boxes", Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois), "Rep. Lauren Boebert not a shoo-in for November race: poll", "North Carolina school district discussing 'furry' ban amid hoax calls about students dressing as animals", "Fact check: Are there litter boxes in NC schools for students dressed as furries? Midland Very important to address every students needs.. Thats why its being levied at children, because of that generation gap where old people dont know what their kid is looking at on the phone. Most people who are required to file 2021 tax returns will have done so by the official filing due date Monday, April 18. [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". Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. that is degrading to another person. Be nice. [71], In August 2022, rumors of litter boxes were directed at two high schools in South Carolina. Humans can find intimate connections when they gather, but its not usually the reason they engaged in the activity. Ah yes. 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". 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. Ahead of the 2022 elections, several prominent American politicians and media personalities spread the hoax, including Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia[11] and Lauren Boebert of Colorado,[16] Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen,[5] retired brigadier general and US Senate candidate Don Bolduc,[17] podcast host Joe Rogan (who later clarified there was no "proof that they put a litter box" in a particular school),[18][19] Chaya Raichik of Libs of TikTok,[6] and Christian talk show host Bill Cunningham. Its a fandom. 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. On your next view you will be asked to log in or create an account to continue reading. The inclusive nature of the furry fandom means that, for many furries, its a safe place where they can be their most authentic selves. Deputies in Davidson County rushed to help a 69-year-old man they'd found unresponsive in his house following a welfare check. 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. Furries are bullied at almost twice the rates of non-furries, and our forthcoming research indicates that four to 15 per cent are on the autism spectrum. [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". Thats the case for furries, too. Or they applied for an extension, giving them until October 17 to file their returns. We hope that you enjoy our free content. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Were a small group of interdisciplinary professors who have studied furries and other fan groups for more than 15 years. Photo illustration by Slate. Fursonas can be a safe, functional way for furries to explore who they are as people, including their gender identity and sexual orientation. The school's principal confirmed the post was fake. 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". 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 including them as a formal identity (here) and (here) and (here). Well, all kinds of people go to conferences; sometimes they have sex there. No evidence. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). the majority of furries are motivated by reasons of social belonging, not sexual motivations. Theres a lot more of this. Thank you for signing in! [22], Ben Cost of the conservative tabloid newspaper New York Post said while explaining the history of the Michigan rumors that, "It's load of kitty litter. And yet, despite our having studied thousands of furries, weve found no evidence to support this If there is an epidemic of kids howling and meowing in schools, youd think it would be easier to find them and put them in front of a camera (or, at very least, one of their teachers!).. Ask SAM: How many Winston-Salem Dash players have made it to the majors? [76] In Ohio, State Board of Education member Brendan Shea repeated the litter box rumor in debate about a resolution to restrict protections for LGBTQ+ students. Conservative fearmongering about students seems particularly unlikely to abate for a while. ", "Joe Rogan admits schools don't have litter boxes for kids who 'identify' as furries: Podcast host had amplified debunked claim about furries spread by Republican politicians", "Rep. Bob Morris cites 'litter box' myth in school board endorsement", "Tony Dungy apologizes again for tweet about litter box claims", "Tony Dungy deletes controversial cat litter tweet after backlash, outrage", "Claims pupils identifying as cats at school branded 'false rumours', "Michigan school not providing litter box for students identifying as cats", "Claim about schools providing litter boxes for students debunked in several states", "Fact Check-No evidence that U.S. schoolchildren are self-identifying as animals and disrupting classrooms", "School litter boxes, cat translators and other myths", "No, Schools Aren't Accommodating Students Who Identify as Animals", "Opinion | Why Are Seemingly Functional Adults Falling for the 'Furries' Myth? 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 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? 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. 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 However, most furries fursonas are wild and mythical animals, such as foxes, wolves and unicorns or hybrid species, such as a kangaroo-dragon. It is such a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you.. Senator J.D. School districts in Iowa, Michigan and Nebraska [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. [82][83], In October 2022, Illinois Republican congressional candidate in the 11th district Catalina Lauf reacted to a CNN news story about Jensen's false claim, saying on Twitter, "this is not a hoax and is happening in schools in Illinois, too". Thank you for reading! So how did the rumor explode into mainstream consciousness, like bad diarrhea from a diet of concern trolling and right-wing blogs? The specific claim that schools are providing litter boxes for students who identify as cats or furries seemed to first emerge in 2021, targeting the Prince Edward Texas district debunks GOP hopeful's claim", "Carroll superintendent: No litter boxes in schools", "Superintendent denies rumors of litter boxes in restrooms for students who 'identify as cats', "Fact Check-Waunakee School District said it does not have a 'furry protocol', "Wisconsin school district does not have 'furry protocol', "Educators say attacking Kansas teachers is GOP strategy to push private schools", "Are there furries in Fargo-Moorhead schools? litter boxes in schools for furries maine. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Among those who had promoted the hoax and prevailed in their races included the incumbents U.S. [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. Restaurant is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Q: Where in Winston-Salem can I get state and federal tax forms in paper? If you're interested in learning more, click here. [15], As the hoax spread widely in the United States and garnered media attention, online rumors spread to several other Canadian provinces and schools. [8][9] The claims have been described as internet trolling,[10] fearmongering,[2] and anti-transgender rhetoric. To back up his assertion that people are identifying as animals, Walsh then speaks with a trans woman who says she is both a furry and a therian. Ask SAM: Are there really litter boxes in school restrooms? [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. 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.

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