litter boxes in schools for furries maine

Its only used to kind of sensationalize untruth, and to harm our community, in particular our transgender, nonbinary and gender-expansive youth, said Nadine Bridges, executive director of One Colorado, an LGBTQ rights organization, when asked about the litter box rumors. Thats the problem. She covers misinformation, extremism and the internet. Fri., January 20, 2023, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Humans can find intimate connections when they gather, but its not usually the reason they engaged in the activity. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. It lets me explore my identity. Q&A with Mills College at Northeastern library director Janice Braun. In an episode of Spotifys The Joe Rogan Experience podcast this week, host Joe Rogan told former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard that a litter box was installed in a school that his friends wife worked at for a girl who identifies as an animal. A clip of the discussion quickly began to circulate on social media. It is me, but more. 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. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. I have never once heard a furry say they want to use a litter box, Kymera said. Furries are a fandom, like anime, Star Trek or football. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. A Michigan school district is denying that litter boxes were provided to students who identify as 'furries' after a woman made the claim in a school board meeting last month.. Video of the woman . Breakout sessions are held for specific groups, such as people in fox suits or deer suits, Pratt said. The furry community is constantly fending off misperceptions, though. Stress and trauma-related behaviors on the rise in classrooms. Anyone can read what you share. 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. It was also unfairly and inaccurately used to ostracize LGBTQ students, who are not necessarily part of the furries subculture, in which people dress up as animals. So, lets get the voucher system going.. Libby Stanford is a reporter for Education Week. Some children, she alleged, would only communicate in barks and hisses. In January 2022, a Republican party official in Michigan shared the remarkable claim that in Midland public schools, officials were accommodating "furries" people who sometimes dress as. And Joe Rogan, a comedian and podcast host, said he knew of a school that was offering litter boxes to students on the Oct. 11 episode of his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience. Rogan also backtracked on his claims, saying it doesnt seem that theres any proof that they put the litter box in there on a later podcast episode. No, schools do not have litter boxes for students, Complaint filed against Pennsylvania school district alleges discrimination against LGBTQ students, alongside other extreme and baseless rhetoric, Moms for Liberty, a conservative activist group, Surveys and pre-publication research from Furscience also indicate. Roberts, an associate professor at Renison University College, affiliated with the University of Waterloo in Canada, said that nearly all furries maintain distinct human personas and do not identify as animals. Powers said that he couldnt guess what politicians like Bolduc stood to gain politically from spreading the rumors. The inclusive nature of the furry fandom means that, for many furries, its a safe place where they can be their most authentic selves. 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. Ive actually made new friends at school because of it, Dayna said in an email. There Appears to Be No Truth Behind Maine Kids Using Litter Boxes at School. He also suggested that hed support incarcerating Minnesotas Democratic secretary of state over election-related conspiracy theories. 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. Use the form below to reset your password. Rich Abrahamson/ Morning Sentinel. Also this month, GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert told an audience in her home state of Colorado that educators are putting litter boxes in schools for people who identify as cats. Around the same time, Ed Thelander, a Republican congressional candidate in Maine, touted the same myth. Conventions typically include art exhibits, dances, vendors selling fursuits, accessories, books and T-shirts. We have more than enough to do in teacher education than to debunk false stories. There is a real subculture of people known as furries, a community of children and adults who roleplay as anthropomorphized animal characters. She also claimed that the nefarious practice was part of a nationwide agenda being pushed within the education system. False rumors about litter boxes in classrooms have gained momentum in recent months. That same day, Sharrow took to Facebook to clarify that the rumor was, in fact, false. For instance, in 2017, Scott Chamberlain, a councilman from New Milford, Conn., wasforced to resign when it came to light that he was a furry. It started with a comment at a school board meeting, which was later amplified by a Michigan state Republican leader, and culminated with a school superintendent explaining that, no, there were no litter boxes on school grounds for students to use if they identified as furries. Shes come to realize that this is who she is, she said. 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.. It really allows you to be an idealized version of yourself. Well, all kinds of people go to conferences; sometimes they have sex there. I think that, in the long run, this kind of attention will help us, Joe Strike, who identifies as a furry and penned the 2017 book Furry Nation told The Post. Clearly it was fake. In January 2022, for example, unfounded rumors were circulated on social media . And it demonstrates how quickly some elements of truth can be twisted and mashed up with fully debunked assertions to create a viral narrative amplified by prominent politicians, as well as commentators with large audiences. Bunny Hawkins displays her Walmart nametag. 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 wave of misinformation reflects discontent among many conservatives around how the concepts and politics of gender identity are rapidly shifting. 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. A Facebook post detailing the hilarious rumor is blowing up online. 13, 2022 7:00 am, Updated: May. Let me be clear in this communication, he wrote. Login. You will receive an email to complete the registration. Me and my two brain cells figured that out, scoffed one critic. If you go to France and you ask, What are the kids studying? the ministry of education can tell you, Today were going to be studying this geometry and this history, Galguera says. Co-founder Courtney Plante, a social psychologist, wrote a July 2017 essay for Psychology Today titled, Whats the Deal with Furries? It was subtitled, What a decade of research reveals about a misunderstood subculture.. Its bullying because of immaturity.. When asked by NBC News for evidence to support her assertion, Lauf referred to an anonymous far-right blog that claimed a student was permitted to wear a furry suit to school in Hinsdale, Illinois. Furries are part of an established subculture that has existed for decades. Educators of color say its often another person seeing their potential and pushing themthat got them into leadership. And get this, get this, Bolduc says in a recording obtained by CNN. by Lia Russell May 19, 2022 A rumor about workers. Did you hear the rumor about kitty litter boxes for furries in public schools? Im a co-founder of the International Anthropomorphic Research Project, also known as Furscience. NBC included the information in a report saying the kitty litter box rumors have become a GOP talking point in states including Colorado, Minnesota and Tennessee. They are trying to dismantle public education as we know it. 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. Studies and surveys show that furries are mostly male and white, and likely to not be straight. Furious I would even use that word., Ms. Hansen says in the video that there is an agenda that is being pushed through our schools is just my opinion but somewhat nefarious when it comes to some of the activities., She goes on to say that this is a nationwide issue, adding, 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.. Already have a commenting profile? But are litter boxes an integral part of the furry fandom? Brenner worries that the hoax serves as another tool for school choice advocates to sow division between public school parents and educators. He describes the costumes as suits of armor, allowing people to express themselves while remaining somewhat anonymous. Go figure: The social media criticisms flew fast and furry-ous. But as the NBC News report added, its important to acknowledge the motivation behind the nonsense. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. I think this is a distracting technique to disparage public schools and to say creating inclusive environments shouldnt be happening, she says. Furries are about 50% more likely than others to have been bullied as children, according to Plante. In late October, Don Bolduc, the Republican U.S. Senate nominee in New Hampshire, claimed schools were offering litter boxes for students who identified as cats and are part of the furries. 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. But while the school bathroom claim was quickly debunked, furries say its disappointing to see their community ostracized. Pratt belongs to the Facebook group Furries of Portland Maine, which has 252 members. This claim as well as many others are simply false and are causing unnecessary stress to students and staff, Norbert Carpenter, the director of schools, said in the post. Its offensive to our teachers, to our principals, to our students. People have sex and furries are people. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. 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. Catalina Lauf, a Republican congressional nominee in Illinois, tweeted this month that schoolchildren were using litter boxes in her state. Awareness of what's occurring outside of school can be beneficialor a hierarchical hell in the wrong hands, Michael Fullan says. Weve never observed litter boxes at any of the dozens of furry conventions weve attended internationally. 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. You cant really go a day on social media without negative comments, she said. All of the claims have been debunked, often by school leaders themselves who posted statements on social media and school websites to limit the rumors spread. However, Strike believes examples such as these and the kitty litter tale are so extreme as to be pretty easy to laugh off while still raising awareness of the group. Within a few months, similar rumors began to spread in the U.S., where they quickly became culture war fodder. 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. Is it possible that somewhere someone has asked for a litter box? It is unconscionable that this afternoon I am sending this communication, the superintendent of Midland Public Schools, Michael Sharrow, wrote on Thursday in an email to parents that was also shared on Facebook. Logic isn't connecting for me, nor can I google anything about itit, but I am baffled as to why conservatives in our area are now obsessed with furries. Brittany Rose Published: May 19, 2022. Can digital traces from internet searches and social media predict outbreaks of COVID-19? University of Waterloo apporte des fonds en tant que membre fondateur de TheConversation CA. Learn more. It is such a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you, he wrote. Photo by Getty Images. 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. Associate professor, Social Development Studies, University of Waterloo. Heres why. A reaction from another user calling for schools to stop admitting furries to schools brought in over 1 million views. Theres no such thing as a litter box at a furry convention.. Most people wouldnt wear this kind of fan paraphernalia to work or a job interview, and some wouldnt wear it at all. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The 30-year-old lives in Skowhegan and works at the local Walmart. 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 that allow transgender students to use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity. I think its an agenda that has been started by a small minority group and a political wing, said Brenner, who emphasized he was speaking about his own personal opinion and not on behalf of the district. How an urban myth about litter boxes in schools became a GOP talking point At least 20 Republican politicians have claimed that schools are making accommodations for students who identify. 2 min read The post Joe Rogan Admits to Having "No Proof" That Schools Are Giving Furries Litter Boxes: "I Fed Into That" appeared first on. Have you met sports fans who wear their teams jersey at a special event, such as a game, or a music fan who wears their favourite bands branded T-shirt? 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 What fitness marketers dont tell you about New Years resolutions. A Michigan superintendent had to refute a wild rumor that a litter box was provided in a school bathroom for students who identify as cats last week after a video of a parent raising the claim at a school board meeting spread on social media. Yes. Published: April 27, 2022 - 9:24 PM. Many people think that furries dress up as animals. Therefore, if you identify as a dog or cat you can no longer go to a public school because animals are not allowed. Get the latest education news delivered to your inbox daily. They tend to be younger, however the ones who attend conventions are older than those who partake in online furry communities. 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 dress code is pretty flexible, she said. Students arent achieving academically, socially, behaviorally, or emotionally. We've received your submission. The furries-in-kindergarten myth was repeated by at least 20 candidates and officials this year, the report found, but none of the school districts mentioned actually offered litter boxes for . Mick Pratt of Westbrook wears her Pixil fursuit at a convention in Chicago in December. That's when a letter sent recently to Renfrew-area newspapers claimed a local school was providing cat litter in a washroom for a student who identifies as a "furry," or animal, causing an . The school district called that blogs story completely inaccurate and not something it would permit. NBC News agreed to keep their last names private due to their fear of harassment. We know sometimes information can get misunderstood and unfortunately, there can be disinformation out there, said Tracy Jentz, the communications and community engagement coordinator for the district and the north central region vice president for NSPRA. However, the term furry fandom was being used in online magazines as early as 1983 and had become the standard name for the genre by the mid-1990s, according to the Wikipedia entry. And data suggest that fantasy-themed activities such as wearing a fursuit can be part of a persons psychological well-being. They may not realize theyre actually doing a favor in the long run, Strike said of those behind the rumor. ), Last week, Joe Rogan, a prominent podcast host, said he has an unidentified friend whos married to a woman who works at an unidentified school that installed a litter box for a student who identifies as an animal.. [Someone who] cosplays as Captain Kirk is unlikely to show up for work on Monday and demand that their phone be replaced with a Star Fleet Communicator, she said. John D. OBryant, a civil rights leader of Martin Luther King Jr.s era, is honored at new Boston Common statue, Northeastern upsets UConn, 4-1, at Frozen Fenway on 29 saves by Devon Levi, the best goaltender in the country, Don Orsillo, Northeastern graduate and MLB voice, sounds off on Red Sox, Bogaerts and his time as a Husky, Northeastern mens hockey team hopes frozen Fenway Park will be a game-changer. Shes called Pixil, a combination of pixie and pixel. 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. In 2021 and 2022, various American conservative and far-right politicians and . Research also indicates that a fursona can help facilitate interactions with others and result in more social confidence. Shes allowed to wear her tail and mask at work, she said. Not So, Says School Official, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/23/us/politics/michigan-litter-box-school.html. Olivia, 16, from California, said shes been part of the furry community for six years. Michigan Republican Party co-chair Meshawn Maddock. But furries are often framed in a negative light. A. It began as a large quest for self-discovery. As the video circulated, the Midland superintendent issued a statement to clarify Hansens claim was false. Were his actions justified? Mr. Sharrow did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. Surveys and pre-publication research from Furscience also indicate that the vast majority are LGBTQ and as many as a third are transgender. The kitty litter story was quickly found to be total nonsense but may have had more staying viral power in reaching many people whod never before heard of the alternative lifestyle some of whom may find they relate to it, said Strike, who dresses up as a suave Komodo dragon named Komos. Furries are a subculture of people who dress up as anthropomorphic animal characters, sometimes developing online fursonas and attending conventions, one of which, Anthro New England, is scheduled for January in Boston. Like Like. The initial reaction was, really? 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. Kymera, 14, of Colorado, said being a furry is just a hobby, akin to being a mascot. Furries are people who have an interest in anthropomorphism, which specifically refers to giving human characteristics to animals. However, misunderstanding furries was mainstream long before it became political. In Colorado, GOP gubernatorial nominee Heidi Ganahl insisted in several recent interviews that students were dressing and identifying as cats, disrupting class, and the states schools were tolerating it. Its unclear exactly where the litter box hoax came from. 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 . They enjoy bonding with like-minded others over things they have in common. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Customers get a kick out of it and kids really like it., Shes been a bunny for about a year, she said. Best thrift stores in Boston and Oakland and is it okay to thrift XMas gifts? 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 . Ive always been pretty outgoing, but its nice to be even more outgoing.. People make fun of you for no reason. IE 11 is not supported. Please wait for the page to reload. I still have a lot of social anxiety, but I feel more confident. She is a co-founder of the International Anthropomorphic Research Project/Furscience. 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. A couple of misunderstandings are that furries have fur fetishes or that they are psychologically dysfunctional, Plante wrote. Anything is possible and I cant disprove a negative. 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. Its about expressing her femininity as a transgender woman, she said. Thats not a big leap from her natural optimism and cheerfulness, she said. She legally changed her name to Bunny. Enter your email and password to access comments. Unionization, lawsuits and China: How will the video game industry adapt in 2023? Strike pointed out that only a small minority of furries even dress up as their fursonas. In early October, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., claimed that people are putting litter boxes in schools for people who identify as cats, according to reporting from the Colorado Times Recorder. shared a video of the school board meeting and the comments on Facebook. Furries allowed to defecate in schools. She attended her first furry event in 2016 and got her fursuit in 2020. 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. In his comments, Bolduc specifically mentioned Pinkerton Academy, a high school in Derry, N.H., that serves both public and private, tuition-paying students. 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. 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. Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more. Changing Demographics: How Educators Expect Populations to Shift, How School Districts Can Benefit From Housing Partnerships, Academic Integrity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Neuroscience-Aligned & Trauma-Informed Approaches to Supporting Students, Teachers & Staff, What Educators of Color Say It Will Take to Boost Their Numbers in School Leadership, Top Superintendents Detail the Toll of Divisive PoliticsAnd How They've Responded, How to Address System Change in Education. An online publication called Maine Journal News (its motto is, The news and information you wont hear from mainstream media) began a recent article about furries with, Put your coffees down because you dont want to spit it out.. For some, its about hiding their day-to-day selves, but for me its about expressing my true self.. We've received your submission. People go because its an opportunity to wear fursuits and to be around other furries, she said. Ms. Hansen also says in the video that she plans to do more investigation into the issue. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. School Boards Are Limiting Public Comment. 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.. The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading & the EdWeek Research Center, reporting from the Colorado Times Recorder. What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack? In late October, Don Bolduc, the Republican U.S. Senate nominee in New Hampshire, claimed schools were offering litter boxes for students who identified as cats and are part of the furries subculture. The post quickly went viral, racking up nearly 860,000 video views on Twitter. How can both countries benefit from the deal? The first notable instance of furry panic occurred when right-wing activists pushed a false claim about schools in Michigan placing litter boxes in bathrooms to allow furry students to use them . Primary school teacher who punched and kicked horse Carole Baskins dead husband found alive but no one noticed last year, I went to McDonalds drive-thru for lunch but left with bags of cash instead, Ex-'SNL' star talks MLK Jr. 'penis' statue in 'Daily Show' debut: 'Can't unsee it', Sutton Stracke: I want to fight bossy ex-RHOBH co-star Lisa Rinna, Jim Edmonds says ex Meghan Kings lies about him are fking annoying, Conor Kennedy gifts pal Andrew Warren rare Dior purse at Miami bash, Kitten born with same 'Zorro' mask as her father, Shakira allegedly discovered Gerard Piqu's cheating because of a jam jar. Ben Goggin is the deputy editor for technology at NBC News Digital. 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. Many of these assertions claim that schools have or are in the process of having litter boxes placed in schools.. "It is unconscionable that this afternoon I . FOLLOW ME . 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. Fursuits are usually worn on special occasions a parade, meet-up or convention. The inclusive nature of the furry fandom means that, for many furries, its a safe place where they can be their most authentic selves. Anytime you have something like that, time and resources are spent which then just takes us away from the good work thats being done by our faculty and staff on a daily basis.. The kitty litter box hoax has spread so far and so fast it even has its own debunking wikipage, which claims the rumor is in response to schools enacting rights for transgender students. But other politicians who spread the rumor, including Boebert in Colorado, won. That same month, school board candidates in Arkansas and Tennessee made similar remarks, and Jennifer Benson, a school board member in Fargo, North Dakota, told a local news outlet children were wearing leashes to school and using litter boxes.
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