shared a video of the school board meeting and the comments on Facebook. Droits d'auteur 20102023, The Conversation France (assoc. Lisa Hansen addressing the board during a Midland Public Schools meeting in Michigan last month. In the end, Plante wrote, furries are no different than anyone else they have the same need to belong, need to have a positive and distinct sense of self, and a need for self-expression.. It takes hard work to avoid being unfairly judged as pushy, aggressive, or emotionalwhile still sticking to your principles. It is a constant suspicion of schools that they are not doing what they should be doing, which gives rise to all these crazy ideas such as the notion there are going to be litter boxes in schools.. Surveys and pre-publication research from Furscience also indicate that the vast majority are LGBTQ and as many as a third are transgender. Bunny considers herself a furry those who enjoy dressing like an animal. Did you hear the rumor about kitty litter boxes for furries in public schools? There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools.. They are trying to dismantle public education as we know it. Reply. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. Ive studied more than 40,000 furries from 70 different countries over a decade, she said. By 1987, there was sufficient interest by people desiring to dress up like their favorite animals to stage the first furry convention. The rise of the litter box rumor shows the power of false claims that start on social media to shape political discourse. Fursuits are usually worn on special occasions a parade, meet-up or convention. The 30-year-old lives in Skowhegan and works at the local Walmart. At face value, this might seem like another example of folks on the right embracing yet another weird myth because it was circulated by Republicans who ought to know better. Still, the untrue gossip is quite hurtful. We have furries and fuzzies in classrooms, Bolduc said at an Oct. 27 campaign event in North Hampton, N.H. They lick themselves, theyre cats. Stress and trauma-related behaviors on the rise in classrooms. But are litter boxes an integral part of the furry fandom? crivez un article et rejoignez une communaut de plus de 158 000 universitaires et chercheurs de 4 538 institutions. 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 for students who identify as anthropomorphic cats, or furries, according to CNN. Were a small group of interdisciplinary professors who have studied furries and other fan groups for more than 15 years. Is it any less authentic? Its offensive to our teachers, to our principals, to our students. Lisa talking about furries and litter boxes at the schools meeting. In one segment of the video, below, at 33 minutes into the video ( the video on this page starts at 33 minutes-in, accordingly) you will see a parent whose name is Lisa mention that students identifying as furries are being provided with cat litter boxes or trays. Powers, the headmaster of Pinkerton Academy, said the rumors take resources away from academics and student learning and ultimately frustrate an already tired staff. She attended her first furry event in 2016 and got her fursuit in 2020. If your knowledge of furries comes mostly from television or social media, then what youve heard about furries is probably wrong. Administrators have had to debunk everything from rumors of menacing clowns terrorizing students in 2016 to more recent claims that schools are indoctrinating students through critical race theory, the academic concept that teaches race is a social construct embedded into legal systems and policies. Humans can find intimate connections when they gather, but its not usually the reason they engaged in the activity. It then popped up in a number of communities as the 2022 midterms campaign season gained traction. The increasing political nature of the rumors prompted the Grand Forks school district in North Dakota to establish a Rumor Has It page on its website, which debunks false information about the district providing litter boxes for students and teaching critical race theory. Several posts to the story suggested it was rumor and that, certainly, employees were not allowed to wear fursuits at work. Lisa Hansen speaks to the Midland Public Schools Board of Education at its Dec. 20, 2021, meeting. The school board members at the meeting did not respond to Ms. Hansens comments, but her remarks gained traction after Meshawn Maddock, a chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party, shared a video of the school board meeting and the comments on Facebook on Thursday. Learn more. There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools.. The writer declined to reveal the source or sources because they reportedly spoke on the condition of anonymity and the information could not be confirmed. There are an estimated 250,000 people in the US who identify as furries, a subculture whose members enjoy dressing up as cartoonish animals, sometimes as a sexual fetish but more often as a fun escape. O'Furr, who has traced the origins of the litter box urban legend, dates the hoax to at least 2008. People make fun of you for no reason. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. She declined to connect NBC News with any parents or teachers shes spoken with. Q&A with Mills College at Northeastern library director Janice Braun. Fri., January 20, 2023, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. As the number of people identifying as trans and nonbinary has increased in recent years, particularly among young people, so has the amount of anti-LGBTQ legislation from conservative politicians. I am hopeful that once these stories are debunked furries will become better known and people who are anthropomorphically inclined will see that theyre part of something, he said, explaining that, Stories like these [help future furries realize] theyre not alone and isolated., Michael Kaplan contributed to this report. Furries, and what it means and what it is, and what some people are trying to make it out to be are two very different things, she said. The only animals allowed in public schools are for the blind or those with a medical condition requiring a dog. Within a few months, similar rumors began to spread in the U.S., where they quickly became culture war fodder. This content is provided by our sponsor. ET. In a Houston taqueria, a customer shot and killed a robbery suspect. Conventions typically include art exhibits, dances, vendors selling fursuits, accessories, books and T-shirts. Anything is possible and I cant disprove a negative. Whats most provocative about this hoax is how it turns on two key wedge issues for conservatives: educational accommodations and gender nonconformity, said Joan Donovan, research director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University and co-author of Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America.. However, most furries fursonas are wild and mythical animals, such as foxes, wolves and unicorns or hybrid species, such as a kangaroo-dragon. Young says she read that at least 20 Republican political candidates have mentioned the rumor. To a person not steeped in the culture war battles over gender identity that have engulfed school districts nationwide, its the kind of claim that would sound bizarre and confusing and, from high-profile GOP members, authoritative. Lets focus on whats really in front of us and not make up stuff.. I dont go out wearing tail, gloves, ears, or fursuit heads on any normal day, she said in an email. But furries are often framed in a negative light. Is it possible that somewhere someone has asked for a litter box? Associate professor, Social Development Studies, University of Waterloo. This story has been shared 102,768 times. 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. Many of the litter box rumours also fixate on cats. By starting all of this disinformation, they can say, public schools arent the answer. NBC News found one example of a school district keeping cat litter on campuses for students to use but it had nothing to do with accommodating children who identify as animals. Members of the "furries" fantasy subculture tell The Post they're not wild about this week's viral rumor that a Michigan school put a litter box in one of its bathrooms for "the kids . Public schools in Maine and across the country have been plagued by false allegations that they have been forced to provide litter boxes for children who identify as animals, sometimes. Maine 'furries' talk about the fun, friendship and freedom that come from letting your inner animal out. Some believe they dress that way all the time. Its the same for furries. The claim is a local school district is putting litter boxes in . And data suggest that fantasy-themed activities such as wearing a fursuit can be part of a persons psychological well-being. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. One of the most recent examples involves a relatively unknown community. Don't have a commenting profile? The angle is, Look at these weird freaks, she said. Im all for creativity and imagination, but when someone lives in a fantasy world and expects other people to go along with it, I have a problem with that, added Hansen, who defined furry as someone who identifies as a cat or a dog, whatever.. It really allows you to be an idealized version of yourself. The school districts saythese claims are untrue. And get this, get this, Bolduc says in a recording obtained by CNN. Mick Pratt, far left, of Westbrook, poses with fellow furries at a convention in Chicago in December. But while the school bathroom claim was quickly debunked, furries say its disappointing to see their community ostracized. Laura Baker/Education Week and Irina Strelnikova/iStock/Getty. 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 students who identify as cats, according to an NBC News review of public statements. Bolduc is among a group of Republican politicians and pundits who spread the same hoax throughout the campaign cycle, causing communications crises for school leaders. It is a shame that the furry community still endures (some) negative media portrayals and public misperception as deviants because the truth of this remarkable and resilient community is far more interesting, Dr. Sharon E. Roberts, associate professor at the University of Waterloo and a co-founder of the International Anthropomorphic Research Project, told The Post. Kymera, 14, of Colorado, said being a furry is just a hobby, akin to being a mascot. NBC News agreed to keep their last names private due to their fear of harassment. We've received your submission. Furries are fans of animals that have human characteristics, such as talking or walking on their hind legs. In an email sent to parents, staff and community members on Jan. 20, Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael Sharrow denied the claim that "litter boxes were provided within MPS student. I like bringing them because its a way to show my creative outlet and something to talk to my friends about. Similarly, furries might attend a furry convention, local meet-up, or simply connect with like-others online, but they return to everyday life on Monday just like everyone else.. Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles. Its no coincidence that Bunny, the only other furry who agreed to be interviewed for this story, is also transgender, Pratt said. However, its worth noting there are many marginalized statuses within the furry community. Kids who identify as furries get a litter box in the school bathroom, Ms. Maddock wrote in a Facebook post sharing the video of the board meeting. Libby Stanford is a reporter for Education Week. Rare rock star interviews raw, complete and unedited in new Northeastern digital archive, Gutenberg Bible leaf and so much more. But there is a stigma, Pratt said, explaining why most furries in Maine did not want to talk a reporter. In his comments, Bolduc specifically mentioned Pinkerton Academy, a high school in Derry, N.H., that serves both public and private, tuition-paying students. Theres a sense of I pay for what my kids learn that isnt the case in other countries that have a national curriculum, he says. This story has been shared 149,250 times. Tyler Kingkade is a national reporter for NBC News, based in Los Angeles. Is it possible that somewhere someone has asked for a litter box? Let me be clear in this communication, he wrote. Many of these assertions claim that schools have or are in the process of having litter boxes placed in schools.. When they dont like something, they hiss and get this, get this, theyre putting litter boxes [in schools] for them.. He describes the costumes as suits of armor, allowing people to express themselves while remaining somewhat anonymous. The boss added, Let me be clear in this communication. Brenner worries that the hoax serves as another tool for school choice advocates to sow division between public school parents and educators. Similarly, furries might attend a furry convention, local meet-up or simply connect with like-others online, but they return to everyday life on Mondayjust like everyone else, Roberts says. Join our webinar to learn from experts on how to create safe spaces using neuroscience and trauma-informed approaches. 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. In his statement, Mr. Sharrow debunked the rumor as categorically false. Why One Principal Is Asking Her Staff to Do Less, We Gave ChatGPT 5 Common Teaching Tasks. One post calling for school districts to take action has been shared more than 31,000 times. Dayna, 15, who lives in Canada, said she brings a mask and tail to school every day but only wears them during lunch and keeps them in her bag during class. This story has been shared 178,212 times. Please wait for the page to reload. His fursona, a fox called Gray Muzzle, was confirmed via Chamberlains profile on a website called SoFurry.com. Sharon E. Roberts receives funding from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada. This is absurd. The initial reaction was, really? She legally changed her name to Bunny. Like Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, team mascots. Todd Dorman. However, there is no publicly-available evidence that proves schools are providing litter boxes to self-identified "furries" anywhere in the U.S. "Furries" are people who often create . It began as a large quest for self-discovery. Delusional, transphobic antics had quite the moment this past weekend, with a cohort of Michigan parents bravely speaking out against a problem that definitely exists: litter boxes for furries in a local school's bathrooms. School Boards Are Limiting Public Comment. ET. Even though they arent new, school hoaxes and rumors have become more political in recent years, said Cathy Kedjidjian, president of the National School Public Relations Association. Furries do a similar thing, but with a twist. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Have you heard of cosplay, where people costume as characters? Mick Pratt of Westbrook wears her Pixil fursuit at a convention in Chicago in December. Voir les partenaires de TheConversation France. Counter-protestors stand and hold signs at the intersection of 10th Street and . The "furry protocol" rumor is the newest wrinkle in a series of false claims concerning absurd behavior in schools. Terry Brenner, superintendent, Grand Forks school district, Grand Forks, N.D. The fandom is centered around an interest in anthropomorphism, or human characteristics given to animals, according to Sharon Roberts, co-founder of a furry research group called Furscience. That has not stopped such rumors from circulating on social media, where they have been repeated like a game of telephone, often with descriptions of friends of friends who supposedly saw such things firsthand. Success. Furries are people who have an interest in anthropomorphism, which specifically refers to giving human characteristics to animals. The wave of misinformation reflects discontent among many conservatives around how the concepts and politics of gender identity are rapidly shifting. November 4, 2022. Im not a furry, and I once held erroneous views of furries, too. The "litter boxes in schools" hoax (also called the litter box canard) 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. Litter Boxes in Schools: How a Disruptive and Demeaning Hoax Frustrated School Leaders. NSF official wants to catalyze research partnerships to tackle pressing societal challenges. And during a legislative hearing last month in Tennessee, two Republican state lawmakers discussed the growing crisis of public schools providing litter boxes for children who identify as cats, and claimed its happening across the state. On Jan. 20, Meshawn Maddock, the co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, advanced the rumor, posting on Facebook that Kids who identify as furries get a litter box in the school bathroom, with a link to a parent activist group. Roberts also noted that the vast majority of furries characters are wild or mythical animals, who wouldnt use a litter box in the first place. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. But other politicians who spread the rumor, including Boebert in Colorado, won. Her favorite breakout group has been with psychologists who are furries, she said. Her campaign declined to answer questions about Ganahls claims, but in one interview with a local Fox affiliate, she suggested theres a lot of this going on in Jefferson County. Get the latest education news delivered to your inbox daily. NBC News spoke to three school-age furries who have posted on TikTok about the experience of being a furry at school. Furries . Custodial staff CANNOT be required to clean up litter boxes. A member of the public who spoke at the meeting, Lisa Hansen, says in the video that she was informed by someone the day before the meeting that litter boxes had been added to the unisex bathrooms for students who identify as cats., I was stunned, Ms. Hansen says in the video. There Appears to Be No Truth Behind Maine Kids Using Litter Boxes at School. Now were going to talk about litter boxes and bathrooms and kids, thats what were talking about now? Pinkerton Academy Headmaster Tim Powers said. He's also the bestselling author of "The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Politics.". The superintendent of the school claims the woman's story is "not true". The spread of rumors about litter boxes has grown alongside other extreme and baseless rhetoric accusing LGBTQ people and educators of grooming children through lessons and policies on gender and sexuality. Some fursuits are phenomenally engineered with fans, cooling packs and LED lights built into them. The Michigan Republican Party did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday, and Ms. Maddock could not be reached. She gave the example of a far-more mainstream Star Trek convention. It would be like trying to have sex wearing a winter coat inside a spacesuit. Unionization, lawsuits and China: How will the video game industry adapt in 2023? They tend to be younger, however the ones who attend conventions are older than those who partake in online furry communities. They may not realize theyre actually doing a favor in the long run, Strike said of those behind the rumor. An unfounded anecdote about kitty litter boxes for role-playing students in public schools is the rumor that just wont quit, and especially in certain political circles. Published: April 27, 2022 - 9:24 PM. Rogan did not name the school, and his publicist did not respond to a request for comment. 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 litter boxes at furry conventions. Shes allowed to wear her tail and mask at work, she said. Litter boxes in schools South Dakota, Furries in schools, Furries in Iowa schools litter box, Litter boxes in schools Fargo, Bath Iron Works litter box, Kids identifying as furries, Bath Iron Works furries But not everyone ridicules furries, Pratt said. In January 2022, for example, unfounded rumors were circulated on social media . He plans to be there in June as Hellboy, wearing red face paint and horns. The "litter boxes in schools" hoax (also called the litter box canard) 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. The rumor of litter boxes in schools appears to have begun among parents on social media, and one of the first schools to confront the falsehood was in Canada last fall. Powers said that he couldnt guess what politicians like Bolduc stood to gain politically from spreading the rumors. A Michigan superintendent said a rumor that a school district has litter boxes on school grounds for students who identify as furries to use the bathroom is . Educators of color say its often another person seeing their potential and pushing themthat got them into leadership. Forensic genealogy starred in apprehension of Idaho murder suspectbut was it necessary. The past few conventions have been canceled because of the COVID pandemic, but a convention featuring furries, comics, fantasy and gaming is scheduled for this coming summer, from June 23 to 26, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in South Portland.
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