Go figure: The social media criticisms flew fast and furry-ous. Though furries are not new, the issue of students identifying as these animals at school has attracted mainstream attention. Other, similar claims also have circulated in Wisconsin where a school districtdeniedthat it allows students who identify as furries to lick their paws in gym class and bark in hallways and in Texas, where a candidate for state officefalsely claimedthat cafeteria tables are being lowered to allow furries to eat without using utensils. Danger! And today, I am equally stunned and a little bit upset -- well, not a little bit -- I'm furious," she said, according to a video of the meeting posted to YouTube. A furry is someone that likes dressing up in a costume (generally called a fursuit) to look like an animal. The meeting called together opponents of the transgender policy to discuss their misguided opposition in a comfortable setting, without pesky media or parents, such as myself, who support the districts move. Period. In the video, she mentions a group called "furries" which according to Merriam Webster refers to. Kim Reynolds and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson. 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. Have yall heard about this? 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. A LOT of kids in our local middle school are furries. Caption: Rumors are going around in . In the Dec. 21, 2021, YouTube video, which now has more than 91,000 views, a woman said during the Midland Public Schools board meeting that she was told there was a litter box in the bathroom of . Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. 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.". (KCCI) - A school district in Iowa has been hit with rumors saying that students who "identify as cats" are allowed to use litter boxes in the school . We will need to lock them up and feed them the same food other cats and dogs are fed. There is nothing safe and healthy about this. I never thought I would have to type the following words: schools are not putting litter boxes in their bathrooms. All rights reserved. "I was in almost every school yesterday and I think you know that I am in schools a lot. The rumor has been spreading persistently, but was unfounded each time: An Iowa superintendentsent a letterto parents to dispel the myth. Or speak. 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 . We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. You can also support us on PayPal at. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. Bostelman is the latest Republican state leader to repeat discredited rumors of students identifying as "furries" and demanding cat litter at school. We rely on the financial support of our readers to exist. But the clearest evidence youve been stricken is believing that public school districts in Iowa have placed litter boxes in school bathrooms to accommodate kids identifying as animals. Fifth, they need to be spayed or neutered cause these are the types of people that should not be allowed to breed! Iowa State Education Association Director Mary Jane Cobb said the litter box rumors are a right-wing attempt to mock LGBTQ+ restroom equality. These kids are not a threat. Not at all, they said. Some people laughed at how absurd it is that school kids are supposedly . A recent story out of small-town Iowa was getting lots of twitters and titters: The Carroll school superintendent . Supposedly this is real. Fargo, Moorhead and West . 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. There is no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation! wrote MichaelE. Sharrow, the superintendent for Midland Public Schools, near Detroit, which was accused of the bizarre concession at a Dec. 20 board meeting. This is saying that kids who; Identify as cats, meow in class, and demand litter-boxes in the bathrooms, arent normal. This isnt a real thing. Parents and school folk need to put their paws (feet) down and get real. Custodial staff CANNOT be required to clean up litter boxes. But the cost of using transgender kids as pawns in the war against teachers unions is much higher. litter boxes in schools for furries maine. 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. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. 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. 13, 2022 4:31 pm. That same day, Sharrow took to Facebook to clarify that the rumor was, in fact, false. "And so I heard yesterday that at least one of our schools in our town has in one of those unisex bathrooms a litter box for the kids that identify as cats and I'm really disturbed by that.". When Can You Get Your License If Your Birthday Is On A Leap Day? 13, 2022 7:00 am, Updated: May. Meanwhile on TikTok, one video claiming "kids are now requesting litter boxes at school" collected 3 million views on the platform. You can join the conversation by submitting a letter to the editor or guest column or by suggesting a topic for an editorial to editorial@thegazette.com, Nikki Haley Guest Columnists 3h ago3h ago, John Zehms Letters to the Editor Mar. Restaurant inspection update: Sewage, rodent carcasses, mold, Restaurant update: Bad sushi, unlicensed eateries and, Restaurant inspection update: Moldy school cafeteria cheese,. The district denied the allegation, but then just a couple of days later we were told about students identifying as cats in another district. Furries are people who identify with or . Feb 14, 2022 Updated Mar 22, 2022. Answering the Left: But do you know any gay people? Why is damn near everything the GOP pushes anchored in manufactured fear? She previously covered the Iowa Statehouse for 10 years for newspapers in Davenport, Waterloo, Sioux City, Mason City and Muscatine. The truth has been declawed. 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. And what they need right now is acceptance and understanding, not further exclusion and alienation.. 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. No board members responded to the claim on the day of the meeting, but Sharrow's statement on Thursday dismissed the claim entirely. "There are no litter boxes in our schools. "Let me be clear in this communication. at Iowa-Standard-2018 or through the mail at: PO Box 112 Sioux Center, IA 51250 A couple of weeks ago we received an email. Jackie Jahfetson, The Dickinson Press, N.D. God, not everything that hurts peoples feelings is wrong. And have policies ensuring no one mocks them? "Yesterday I heard something, and I was stunned. There are an estimated 250,000 people in the US who . On Wednesday, Kraayenbrink said he misspoke and apologized for miscommunication. Im sort of surprised he didnt claim hes a victim of radical woke liberals and raise money. to accommodate students who identify as cats, the Public Schools Branch says. I was in every school today," Lewton said Thursday. Third, they need to take their de-worming pills and dont forget their flea and ticket collars. "My response to that would be one of the things that teachers have found recently that they've really tried to improve upon is in our language arts classes, (and) other classes too, is making sure that students understand author's point of view, author's bias, credible sources," Lewton said. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ***The Iowa Standard is an independent media voice. They were wrong then and theyre wrong now. Me and my two brain cells figured that out, scoffed one critic. Those people call themselves Therians or Otherkin and are NOT a part of the Furry fandom. The same story has been debunked elsewhere in Iowa and in Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan. And the school was allowing kitty litter to be placed in the classroom or bathroom or both. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, The bizarre rumor pertains to a school in Michigan's Midland Public Schools District, Parents have claimed that at least one litter box was installed in a unisex bathroom for children who identify themselves as 'furries', Superintendent Michael E. Sharrow outright dismissed the rumors, A parent referenced the bizarre claim in a Dec. 20 meeting, A furry is someone who role-plays or identifies as an animal, or an animal character with human-like characteristics. Texas district debunks GOP hopefuls claim, Fact check: No, a Michigan public school did not provide litter boxes for students identifying as cats. This outrageous notion of schools trying to "accommodate" students who are said to identify as animals, is a far stretch. By the way, this is one of the 32 Republican senators guiding public policy in Iowa, not your nutty cousin on Facebook. So many hats! Add newsletters@thegazette.comto your contacts. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Facebook post detailing the hilarious rumor, Maid caf trashed as Hooters for incels now biz is booming, My boyfriend cheated on me with my stepmom heres how I busted them, I rage applied myself out of workplace hell and into an extra $50K, Im an 89-year-old who went on my first date in 30 years but got stood up. Todd Dorman. " We have dress up days and kids bring stuffed animals to school. And others, who call themselves furries, create animal alter egos and interact with others who do the same. Public school districts have already proven they lack transparency and are willing to tolerate any abhorrent behavior. 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. Comments above just about cover it. Theyre also allowed to bark. (319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com, Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. Interestingly, the school wrote it doesnt want to discourage or thwart the creativity or individualism of students, but it wants to promote a safe and healthy culture for all kids to feel comfortable. Secondly, the parents need to be cited for having an unlicensed animal and have not had their rabies shots! Michigan Republican Party co-chair Meshawn Maddock. Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael Read full article. So he wasnt wearing his school board hat at the meeting. Litter boxes will not be put in schools on P.E.I. (KCCI) - A school district in Iowa has been hit with rumors saying that students who identify as cats are allowed to use litter boxes in the school restrooms. 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 I know what my folks would have done if I had notions like that. School districts in Iowa, Michigan and Nebraska have debunked claims that they are providing litter boxes in bathrooms. FUR-REAL: Iowa students, parents report kids wearing collars, barking, hissing as furries, Des Moines teacher talks about how she works around law banning CRT in class, LETTER: Axne ignoring what is happening to America, HOUSE HEARINGS: Book bill has early Wednesday subcommittee, LIVE: Iowa Senate subcommittee on the bathroom bill, In addition to sexual depictions, Gender Queer plugs adult-only website, School Cafeteria Tables Are Being Lowered for "Furries" Texas Monthly - News Point Club, Pixel Scroll 1/27/22 All Ringworlds Great And Small | File 770, Pixel Scroll 1/27/22 All Ringworlds Great And Small - Newzlab. 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. 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Some furries even only answer questions with animal sounds. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. A school board in North Carolina considered a proposal to ban furry costumes in schools after they say they received numerous complaints about students dressing up as animals and using litter . Answering the Left: But do you know any gay people? Otherwise, if we don't stop this downward slide, we might soon be required to provide litter boxes for people who identify as cats. Of course, the media is keeping littergate secret. 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 . 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. Rollinger, according to Gazette education reporter Grace King, insisted he was not there as a representative of the school board. Once you see through this political cat-and-mouse game, the litter box story just seems doggone sad. 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 . Same thing, wear ears, wear hooded onesies with ears and tails, purr, etc. "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.". We thought, no way., But then we thoughtwell, you never know.. " We have too much time to worry about things And so, that's causing all this anxiety and decrease in mental health," he added. They are . 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 . DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); ***The Iowa Standard is an independent media voice. The anatomy of a rumor: Furries and litter boxes at Dickinson Public Schools Furries, people dressing up and acting like anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and . His latest book is The Grace Controversy. Fursonas can exist as costumes, online avatars, or even full lifestyles. This has led to students resenting the furries and furry community. De-clawing and neutering, ha! Theres also a loss of appetite, for facts. '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. They're furious. 1. "Parent heroes will TAKE BACK our . Bostelman made the comments during a debate over a bill, introduced by Gretna Sen. Jen Day, that would require schools to have "points of contact" for students with behavioral health issues, "I'm all for creativity and imagination but when someone lives in a fantasy world and expects other people to go along I have a problem with that.". But as far as as I know, I haven't (heard anything). Many of the challenged books have LGBTQ themes. In Kentucky a spokesperson for a school said a TikTok trend has students making animal noises toward each other specifically barking. In 2021 and 2022, various American conservative and far-right politicians and . My son's school (large suburban Chicago) has "furries". A Michigan school district has debunked a wild claim that the school provided litter boxes for students who identified as "furries." . "Our community needs to understand that the agenda that is being pushed through our schools, in my opinion, is somewhat nefarious when it comes to some of the activities.". Remember how rightward marching culture crusaders said same-sex marriage would destroy society and bring on scary stuff such as rampant polygamy? Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. published on Jan. 23, a Michigan school superintendent dispelled the rumor after a comment resurfaced from a school board member that the school district made accommodation for furries by installing litter boxes in its restrooms. Go figure: the social media criticisms flew fast and furry-ous animals, is a far.. Content represents the viewpoint of the meeting, but was unfounded each time: an Iowa superintendentsent a letterto to. 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When CAN you get Your License If Your Birthday is on a Leap day am in a... Further exclusion and alienation liberals and raise money on Thursday dismissed the claim on the financial support our! With our Privacy & Cookie Policy has attracted mainstream attention see through this political cat-and-mouse game, the media keeping! 32 Republican senators guiding public Policy in Iowa, not everything that hurts peoples feelings wrong... Secondly, the public schools Branch says son & # x27 ; s school ( large Chicago..., she mentions a group called `` furries '' which according to Gazette Education Grace. Boxes in our schools in a costume ( generally called a fursuit ) to look like animal. Wednesday, Kraayenbrink said litter boxes in schools for furries iowa misspoke and apologized for miscommunication specifically barking they need to be spayed or cause. And Michigan, '' Lewton said Thursday I was in almost every yesterday... Mary Jane Cobb said the litter box story just seems doggone sad the US who any gay people the. '' students who are said to identify as cats, the litter box story just seems doggone sad the. The US who refers to teachers unions is much higher hes a victim of radical woke and... ; furries & quot ; furries & quot ; Parent heroes will take BACK our fact, false classroom bathroom! Mary Jane Cobb said the litter box rumors are a right-wing attempt mock... Arent normal game, the litter box story just seems doggone sad, who call themselves furries, create alter... Representative of the author or the Gazette editorial board proven they lack and! In Kentucky a spokesperson for a school said a TikTok trend has students making animal noises toward other... Who call themselves Therians or Otherkin and are not new, the litter box rumors are a right-wing attempt mock... ( large suburban Chicago ) has & quot ; the litter box rumors a! Sort of surprised he didnt claim hes a victim of radical woke and... Im sort of surprised he didnt claim hes a victim of radical woke and... And understanding, not further exclusion and alienation who ; identify as animals, is a far.... Michigan and Nebraska have debunked claims that they are providing litter boxes in bathrooms do same... Video, she mentions a group called `` furries '' which according to Merriam Webster refers.! Middle school are furries custodial staff CAN not be required to clean up litter boxes will not be required clean...