Advertisment: In late 2021 and early 2022, a rumor spread far and wide that conflated distinct groups of people: furries (or the furry fandom) and the transgender/gender diverse community. That's when a local news story about a Pittsburgh furry convention led to unfounded . Secondly, the parents need to be cited for having an unlicensed animal and have not had their rabies shots! Please consider a one-time sign of support or becoming a monthly supporter at $5, $10/month - whatever you think we're worth! King also reported that state guidance on transgender student equity has disappeared from the Department of Education website. They are . A furry is someone who role-plays or identifies as an animal, or an animal character with human-like characteristics. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ***The Iowa Standard is an independent media voice. It all started with one Michigan school board meeting where a parent went on a strange rant after she "discovered" that her school is putting litter boxes in bathrooms. If youve ever used the phrase Fake News now YOU can actually DO something about it! She goes on to say that it is a NATIONAL problem going on in schools. Well, litter boxes, apparently. Some furries even wear animal costumes or tails in public. Copyright 2022 KCCI via CNN Newsource. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Counter-protestors stand and hold signs at the intersection of 10th Street and 29th Avenue during a protest against the Linn-Mar school boards passage of policies to protect transgender students from discrimination near Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa on Friday, May 6, 2022. The district denied the allegation, but then just a couple of days later we were told about students identifying as cats in another district. "Not making them participate. According to the Carroll Times Herald, rumors that Carroll Community School District officials were putting litter boxes into their bathroom facilities have been going on for weeks! No, furries don't get litter boxes in school bathrooms | Is This Legit? Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. But the other girl wanted to one up everyone, and decided she was really a demon instead. it is, i go to high school with plenty of these people and want to drop out because the things i have to see. Parent heroes will TAKE BACK our schools," Maddock wrote. While there are no chickens in this tiny house, you can still have some fun in this cozy space in Fayette. We rely on the financial support of our readers to exist. Counter-protestors stand and hold signs at the intersection of 10th Street and . Kersten initiated an effort to send the senator bags of kitty litter. by Kathie Obradovich, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 14, 2022. All these harmful, spiteful tactics targeting Iowans and their rights for a political payday carry an unmistakable stench. I went to r/furry to ask for advice and their opinion on how to handle this situation but got permanently banned. He didnt inform his colleagues or the district about the meeting. Getty Images. The right-wing is waging its newest culture war on the furry community by storming school board meetings and parroting absurd talking points about schools ma. 'A rising usage of furry refers to people who have a keen interest in or even dress up as, anthropomorphic animal characters, like those often seen in comics, games, and cartoons. I think we need some intervention on these kids and parents. Schools are not putting litter boxes in bathrooms to accommodate children, as months of unfounded rumors have claimed. But the cost of using transgender kids as pawns in the war against teachers unions is much higher. "Parent heroes will TAKE BACK our . Another gawker wondered how the litter box system would even work, writing: Logistically no public school has the budget to afford kitty litter for a small percentage of their community to use also ask yourself the last janitor youve met would they scoop human feces out of a litter box?. What is happening to civilization? We live in a conservative area of North Florida and A LOT of kids in our local middle school are furries. No board members responded to the claim on the day of the meeting, but Sharrow's statement on Thursday dismissed the claim entirely. Its been circulating since last year and wont die. They're not super realistic outfits, so they mostly look like the kind of suit a mascot would wear. " We have dress up days and kids bring stuffed animals to school. Taylor, doesnt your school have acting, dance, music, and art classes where you can express yourselves? Frankly, with all the unbelievably dopey Tik-Tok challenges out there, its not out of the realm of possibility that some kid, somewhere, has decided to try to emulate a cat to that extreme. Parents of children in one Iowa school have even claimed that a girl requested a litter box in the girl's restroom. I never thought I would have to type the following words: schools are not putting litter boxes in their bathrooms. And others, who call themselves furries, create animal alter egos and interact with others who do the same. The flurries of furries has reached North Dakota, with some school districts in Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo issuing statements to debunk the kitty litter rumors, as detailed in a Forum article . Urinating and defication in a litter box, for others to clean up is unsanitary and quite frankly disgusting. A gender identity is something innate to a person; a core component of their being that cant be changed, Crow said. May. ", Popular Mobile Games You Must Play In 2023. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. In the message, Berlau writes, This is about stupidity not transphobia. Some furries even only answer questions with animal sounds. "I was in almost every school yesterday and I think you know that I am in schools a lot. A Nebraska state lawmakerpublicly repeatedthe claim then apologized when he learned it wasnt true. Fargo, Moorhead and West . No. A couple of weeks ago we received an email. In a phone conversation with The Dickinson Press, Superintendent Marcus Lewton denied that Dickinson Public Schools has or will be installing any litter boxes in its restrooms. (Photo by pixelfit/Getty Images) A recent story out of small-town Iowa was getting lots of twitters and titters: The Carroll school superintendent sent out an email to parents to knock down a false rumor that there were litter boxes in school bathrooms to . I want to weigh in here, because I am a Furry. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. ", The post was later edited to add, "I have no litter box proof. "I will do some more investigation," she added. "It is a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you., During the Dec. 20 meeting, a parent of a student in the district said she had been left "disturbed" after hearing a litter box had been installed in at least one unisex restroom in one of the district's schools for those who "identified as cats.". There are an estimated 250,000 people in the US who . I was in every school today," Lewton said Thursday. I wish I were making this up. . Consider the message it sends transgender kids. It was about a rumor involving an Iowa school. If youve ever used the phrase Fake News now YOU can actually DO something about it! We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. In short: This behavior is not related to Furries so please stop lumping a harmless hobby in with an actual mental illness. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. 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. Read full article. If they are not claimed within 72 hours, they need to be euthanized. I very specifically said I am here speaking on my own behalf, Rollinger said. Published: Feb. 11, 2022 at 1:39 PM PST. 0:45. No wonder the kids are not learning! It is unconscionable that this afternoon I am sending this communication, however, our Midland PS stakeholders may be confused about a false message/accusation that has resurfaced this week and is gaining traction in the social media realm, he wrote. We will need to lock them up and feed them the same food other cats and dogs are fed. A LOT of kids in our local middle school are furries. Comments above just about cover it. This outrageous notion of schools trying to "accommodate" students who are said to identify as animals, is a far stretch. That same day, Sharrow took to Facebook to clarify that the rumor was, in fact, false. Maybe he was wearing the Joe and the Hoe Gotta Go hat he sported in a photo circulated on social media during last years school board campaign. Danger! This isnt a real thing. Naturally, Wingert wanted to know which school district the senator was referring to. Kraayenbrink said a school district in his Senate district put litter boxes in bathrooms to accommodate furries. He also pointed to an unidentified school district where he said girls are wearing one-piece bathing suits to shower because boys are infiltrating their showers. , the term furry is defined as a "diverse community of fans, writers, gamers and role players," who come up with an anthropomorphized animal character that they identify with and can function as an avatar within the community. And we should reject the request of a transgender student to use the restroom that matches their gender identity, in the same way that we should reject a student request to use a litter box., Furries dont identify as cats or other animals, Crow said. Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow took to Facebook on Thursday to deny the claims, insisting no litter box accommodations had been made for any students who identify as a "furry.". 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. The Carroll Community School District Superintendent, Casey Burlau, sent a letter to concerned citizens in the hopes of "dispelling a damaging rumor" that there are children identifying as animals (some call them "furries") and the district has tried to accommodate them with litter boxes. Rumors have now begun circulating in Dickinson and other Western Edge communities that have sparked more than one phone call to The Dickinson Press with questions on whether the school district has, or will be, installing litter boxes in its restrooms. Bathrooms! Sick. They dont literally think that theyre cats or dogs, or whatever, and theyre not asking schools to put litter boxes in, or any of this nonsense.. This woman claims that a group of kids who identify as "furries" and specifically identified as cats was given litter boxes in the unisex bathroom at this school. It isnt how I pictured civilisations collapse. "This is simply and emphatically not true," and goes on to say " It is very unfortunate that this rumor has been spread over the last several weeks. A Facebook post says schools are putting litter boxes in bathrooms to accommodate kids who identify as furries. "When I was the middle school principal, our language arts teacher said we have to do this because there is so much media and news out there that doesn't tell the whole story or the truth. May. And the school was allowing kitty litter to be placed in the classroom or bathroom or both. The only animals allowed in public schools are for the blind or those with a medical condition requiring a dog. There never will be," said EVSC Superintendent David Smith, after Monday's board meeting. Ernie Kersten had been at the Eggs and Issues legislative forum in Fort Dodge, where state Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge, went on a curious riff about why Iowa needs to offer publicly funded scholarships to help families send kids to private school. Thats why Iowa Capital Dispatch, a nonprofit, independent source for quality journalism, is working every day to keep you informed about what government officials are doing with your money, your freedom and your safety. 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 . Carroll CSD Superintendent Casey Berlau sent an email to the entire district on February 7th. When a community member made a claim about litter boxes being in Brainerd at a March . Ill have my tuna on rye, not mixed with kibble, thanks. 2. Some people laughed at how absurd it is that school kids are supposedly going around claiming to be animals. Dare I say that it is absolutely bonkers! She continued: "It was addressed by a child a couple of months ago that they are put in an environment where that are kids that identify as a furry cat or a dog or whatever. Meanwhile, back in Marion, at last weeks Linn-Mar School Board meeting, board member Matt Rollinger, who opposes the districts transgender policies, got an earful from fellow board members about his attendance at a closed-door meeting with Gov. A level of psychiatry needs to be initiated before creating accommodations for students who identify as cats. Therefore, if you identify as a dog or cat you can no longer go to a public school because animals are not allowed. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter. "Some furries wear elaborate costumes or paraphernalia such as animal ears or tails, or represent themselves as anthropomorphic animals in online communities such as Second Life," the website. This is about stupidity not transphobia. Though furries are not new, the issue of students identifying as these animals at school has attracted mainstream attention. Litter boxes will not be put in schools on P.E.I. According to the Carroll Times Herald, rumors that Carroll Community School District officials were putting litter boxes into their bathroom facilities have been going on for weeks! Editor Kathie Obradovich has been covering Iowa government and politics for more than 30 years, most recently as political columnist and opinion editor for the Des Moines Register. A school had to send an email putting this rumor to rest. Go to the bathroom in a toilet and flush. bizarre concession at a Dec. 20 board meeting. Canva/KM. Debunking myths about kids identifying as animals, and litter boxes in schools Published: November 7, 2022 4.32pm EST Sharon E. Roberts , University of Waterloo There are no litter boxes in the restrooms of the Carroll Community School District, its superintendent stressed, despite internet rumors that some schools are installing them for . The same story has been debunked elsewhere in Iowa and in Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan. European cat, Felis catus, brown tabby kitten in litter tray. And that is what is missing if you know what I mean. "Let me be clear in this communication. Kim Reynolds and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson. One of them decided she was a princess, and convinced all the other kids to wear these fake horse ears and tails. I live about two blocks from the school board administrator in my county, whom through his wife told us that a young lady in our district is indeed putting up a squabble about being denied accommodation as a cat. Sharon E. Roberts, Associate professor, Social Development Studies, University of Waterloo . To his knowledge, Lewton said that he's not aware of any students identifying as a furry in the school system and said that the litter boxes are unfounded rumors. If these student animals are so messed in the head, lets treat them like a cat or dog! For heavens sake, dont allow this to go on! During his transphobic chat with conservative politician Tulsi Gabbard, right-leaning podcaster Joe Rogan repeated a far-right lie about student "furries" using litter boxes in public schools. Leave them alone. The superintendent of the school claims the woman's story is "not true". Nothing wrong with being Transphobic . Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow also had to address those rumors, saying they were false. Iowa is being plagued by multiple cases of what Im diagnosing as a strain of cat scratch fever. (Photo by pixelfit/Getty Images). Supposedly this is real. These kids are not a threat. 1, 2023 6:00 am1d ago, Karen Carlton Letters to the Editor Feb. 27, 2023 6:00 am5d ago, Todd Dorman Staff Columnists Feb. 26, 2023 6:00 am5d ago, Staff Columnists Feb. 26, 2023 6:00 am4d ago, Staff Columnists Feb. 26, 2023 6:00 am5d ago, David V. Wendell Guest Columnists Feb. 27, 2023 6:00 am5d ago, Guest Columnists Feb. 27, 2023 6:00 am5d ago, Guest Columnists Feb. 26, 2023 6:00 am5d ago, Bloomberg Federal Government 32m ago32m ago. Kids being dumb: The Meade County School district is dealing with an unusual situation: a group of high school students is attending school acting like and dressing as cats. And last week, as I was meeting people at the Clay County GOP booth at the county fair, a student told me this sort of thing is happening at their school too. As Ive said, we should just put away the chants, flags and signs and leave them alone. Supposedly, a female student was identifying as a cat. Fargo School Board member Jennifer Benson told The Forum that a student informed her some schools have litter boxes in restrooms for students who identify as furries. In Michigan, a school superintendent alsosent an email to parents to say the claim was false, after a parent stated it publicly at a school board meeting that garnered more than 80,000 views on YouTube. A "furry" is someone who role-plays or identifies as an animal, or an animal character with human-like characteristics. Rollinger, according to Gazette education reporter Grace King, insisted he was not there as a representative of the school board. Go figure: The social media criticisms flew fast and furry-ous. And despite the best efforts of the reality-based community to find a cure, the condition continues to spread. The truth has been declawed. But as far as as I know, I haven't (heard anything). A recent story out of small-town Iowa was getting lots of twitters and titters: The Carroll school superintendent sent out an email to parents to knock down a false rumor that there were litter boxes in school bathrooms to accommodate students who identify as cats. Lewton noted that each school within the Dickinson Public Schools district has its own handbook that lays out dress code. Sharrow said the rumor was recently brought up by a parent during a school board meeting on December 20 and has since been shared widely online. Some people laughed at how absurd it is that school kids are supposedly . There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools.. A recent story out of small-town Iowa was getting lots of twitters and titters: The Carroll school superintendent . A district patron asked the school board at its meeting last week if this . The rumor had also been peddled on Facebook by the co-chair of the Michigan GOP, Meshawn Maddock. So the litter box stories are part of an effort to smear transgender kids and justify restricting their rights. Nati Harnik AP. Parents and school folk need to put their paws (feet) down and get real. or Venmo at Iowa-Standard-2018 or through the mail at: PO Box 112 Sioux Center, IA 51250 There continue to be tales of students identifying as cats with, well, tails and all . Add newsletters@thegazette.comto your contacts. Furries like to create a character that is basically what would I be if I was an animal cartoon character but we dont believe we ARE animals, its just like cosplaying any other character in media except its one you create yourself. Elections: What EVSC school board candidates say about diversity, inclusion and masks. A 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. A number of politicians, including U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), have propagated similar claims as well. By clicking Accept all you agree that Yahoo and our partners will process your personal information, and use technologies such as cookies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights, and product development. The flurries of furries has reached North Dakota, with some school districts in Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo issuing statements to debunk the kitty litter rumors, as detailed in a Forum. This story has been shared 102,999 times. First, contact the humane society for not having a valid animal license and not wearing a tag. 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 Island's Public Schools Branch . As for the rest of us, expect headaches, confusion and exhaustion. In 2021 and 2022, various American conservative and far-right politicians and . STURGIS "It's a social-media myth," Meade School District Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt said of the rumor that people are requesting litter boxes be placed in local schools for students who Monique Curet , PolitiFact. Lisa Hansen speaks to the Midland Public Schools Board of Education at its Dec. 20, 2021, meeting. We thought, no way., But then we thoughtwell, you never know.. Jackie Jahfetson, The Dickinson Press, N.D. Iowas Most Boring Town Is A Hilarious Coincidence, Heres What 1 Year Of Working On K92.3 and Moving To Iowa Looks Like [PHOTOS], 5 Tips That May Help With Spring Allergies In Your Iowa Home, Chicago Man Convicted In Cruel Shooting of Iowa Deputy, Waterloos Lost Island Parks Announce Opening Dates. Kim Reynolds and some GOP lawmakers are trying again to funnel a significant share of education dollars to private and religious schools. Imagine being such a tone deaf journalist that you miss the whole point that this is about transphobia and mocking trans people. I heard from the same reliable sources that theres this one high school where a couple of girls identify as horses. We've received your submission. Even putting litter boxes in the bathrooms in some schools? Some go to conventions dressed as their favorite superheroes. In January, in possibly the first report, Libs of TikTok posted a video from a Michigan school board meeting of a woman who claimed "kids who identify as a cat or a dog" can pee in litter . Urinating and dedication in a litter box, for others to clean up is unsanitary and quite frankly disgusting. A strange rumor has been circulating on social media for the past month or so that has to do with schools and litter boxes. They are acting just as described in this article. You can also support us on PayPal at. From the Morning Sun: Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow took to Facebook Thursday, addressing false rumors that litter box accommodations were being made for students who identify as "furries.". Those that have sex in the suits is what they're infamous for, but that's only a small percent of furries. You can also support us on PayPal at. Also, the litter boxes dont exist. Or incest. We were told there are students allowed to wear cat ears and tails while other students cannot even wear a hat. Tim Kraayenbrink, a Republican Iowa state senator, said at a forum in May that local schools had been required to put cat litter boxes in the bathroom for furries to use, as he discussed schools . Fifth, they need to be spayed or neutered cause these are the types of people that should not be allowed to breed! His latest book is The Grace Controversy. "It is unconscionable that this afternoon I . 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. The rumor is that our schools have litter boxes in the restrooms to accommodate individuals who are self-identifying as animals. Fourth, they need to be kicked out of school for pets are not allowed in school unless used to assist handicapped individuals as a service animal. As part of this fact checking article, we reached out to Dickinson Public Schools to shed light on a growing rumor alleging that some unique furry protocols are coming to a school near you. One Iowa man has been going viral for his exceptional bar. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. And have policies ensuring no one mocks them? It probably wont pass, but it serves a larger purpose of making Iowa parents distrust and fear public schools at a time when Gov. His houseguests are transported to a classic speakeasy with the push of a secret door in his home. Thanks for contacting us. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I will make contact with the local Humane Society so we can get a vehicle out there to get these unlicensed, unvaccined animals into the local pound. Prior to the litter box rumours, furries were seen as sexual deviants an idea that was reinforced by popular media that emphasized the sensational . This is saying that kids who; Identify as cats, meow in class, and demand litter-boxes in the bathrooms, arent normal. In Iowa, an unsourced, anonymous report claimed that school boards were considering placing litter boxes in the bathrooms, while a Canadian public school director took to the media to connect similar rumors in his [], [] Similar reports have popped up elsewhere. ACROSS AMERICA The conspiracy theory that some school districts are providing litter boxes for students who identify as animals, or "furries," is making the rounds again as the 2022-23 . Its like the slippery-slope arguments that we heard back when Iowa legalized same-sex marriage: If we allow this, next well have to condone marriages involving pedophilia. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Same thing, wear ears, wear hooded onesies with ears and tails, purr, etc. Waukee taxpayers voice displeasure at heated meeting. . "Kids who identify as 'furries' get a litter box in the school bathroom. You guys are truly ignorant. One post calling for school districts to take action has been shared more than 31,000 times. Well, kind of. In Kentucky a spokesperson for a school said a TikTok trend has students making animal noises toward each other specifically barking. This is definitely going on in schools. No. Theyre identifying as animals. These furries, as were told they are called, are also allowed to hiss and meow at other students. This is simply and emphatically not true, Burlau wrote. A Nebraska state senator has walked back comments he made during a televised debate in which he referenced false rumors about schools providing litter boxes for children who . Doubling down on his denial, Sharrow urged any parents to send him a message in the future if they ever have questions about any "wild accusations that don't sound like something" the district would do.

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