"It is such a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you.". Many people are doing what amounts to an experiment on these young people without telling them its an experiment. We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. The district where Columbine High School is located has been stocking classrooms with small amounts of cat litter since 2017, but as part of go buckets that contain emergency supplies in case students are locked in a classroom during a shooting. And no, one seems to want to stop this and instead encourage it in their schools. 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. The rumour alleged that pupils at Banff Academy were identifying as cats. The only problem is it isnt true. Really. He is going on 16 years old this year, and has been with us a long time. READ MORE:Anti-monarchy activists 'turn Buckingham Palace into polling station', But no, the school, the school resources and the other students and teachers should not have to be put through that because its a lie and we have to reject them.. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. Two curious stories relating to cats have been circulating online this week: In the first story, a substitute teacher claims she was fired because she refused to meow back to a student who identifies as a cat, while parents in a Michigan school district were infuriated by a rumor that the district was providing litter boxes to cat-identified students in school bathrooms. There is a real subculture of people known as furries, a community of children and adults who roleplay as anthropomorphized animal characters. Proof would be a letter home to parents, a notice on a district website, a copy of a school policy, that sort of thing. Feline humor, news and stories about the ongoing adventures of Buddy the Cat. (LogOut/ 2022. Michael E. Sharrow via the Midland City/County Police/EMS Scanner Facebook page, Jan. 20. Under a new state diversity policy, students may inform schools of how they identify and what pronouns to be used. Will Democrats and Big Tech ever apologize? subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that photos show a non-verbalstudentwhose cat identity is accommodated at public school. As usual, left-wing ideologues have created larger societal problems by refusing to address the main issue. "This is still a problem. In the days before McKenna appeared on Peta's podcast, Pesta gave a few presentations that mentioned this alleged email. The photos show aNorweigan woman who was the subject of multiple media reports in 2016 when she claimed to be a cat trapped in a human's body. It also directs schools to ensure that gender-neutral, single-occupant bathrooms are accessible to anyone. students identifying as cats. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. This site is about cats, and I want everyone who loves cats to feel welcome here. Then, there was the news of Lia Thomas, the male transgender swimmer who competed for the female swimming team at the University of Pennsylvania. But this post tells a story that simply didn't happen. Inthe 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 wasa litter box in the bathroom of at least one local school for students who self-identify as cat "furries" people who adopt and identify with an anthropomorphized animal persona, often within online or local communities of furries. A Midland, Michigan, middle school student told the school board last fall some of her classmates identify as cats and dogs. "She is non verbal and she crawls around making cat like noises and the school is perfectly fine with this behavior? False rumors about. According to reports, the girl allegedly is phenomenally bright and does not speak during school hours. I cant stay in the same classroom as that cat! Since then, however, it has spread to numerous US states and now to Scotland. Kymera, 14, of Colorado, said being a furry is just a hobby, akin to being a mascot. website:https://t.co/MPw6FiMrm1. If youre on the right, youre might argue that some schools have gone so overboard with political correctness, its not a stretch to imagine privileges conferred on the allegedly cat-identified. First, there was the news of Bruce Jenner transitioning to become Caitlyn Jenner. Brandy Zadrozny is a senior reporter for NBC News. A video of Wisconsin talk radio host Vicki McKenna's appearance on the Dr. Duke Show, a podcast hosted by Dr. Duke Pesta, racked up more than 100,000 views as it circulated on social media: There's no truth to this rumor. 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. Michigan had installed litter boxes in order to appease students who had started identifying as cats, there's no evidence that any schools in Michigan installed litterboxes for their students. Furthermore, there's no evidence that any schools in Michigan installed litterboxes for their students. He later told a local newspaper he didnt verify the claim was true, and he did not respond to a request for comment from NBC News. Isla Bryson: Why are trans criminals put in Scottish women's prisons? Anti-monarchy activists 'turn Buckingham Palace into polling station'. "Let me be clear there is no truth whatsoever tothis false statement/accusation! READ MORE:Isla Bryson: Why are trans criminals put in Scottish women's prisons? oh, dont forget to stock up on cat food as human food isnt really good for them. Pain In The Bud, FurryGate: Rogan, Boebert, Greene Drag Cats Into Politics With Claims Of Litter Boxes In Schools Pain In The Bud. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. As the video circulated, the Midland superintendent issued a statement to clarify Hansens claim was false. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WLWT-TV. "So, now in schools, if a kid wants to identify as a furry, . In 2021 and 2022, various American conservative and far-right politicians and media personalities promoted the hoax in response to . This is freakn ridiculous! "The students are told they cant wear hats or Budweiser shirts in school, but they can wear cat ears, cat tails, masks, leashes. LGBTQ2SIA+ is the acronym used by Basic Rights Oregon and other advocacy groups to describe those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, two-spirit, intersexual, asexual and/or other varying genders and sexualities. "It's sad were at a point in our culture that a rumor like this even needs to be addressed," said Blair Stenvick, the communications manager for the Portland-based nonprofit Basic Rights Oregon. It's also worth noting that while McKenna claimed on Pesta's podcast that she had received multiple emails about these furry protocols, the email she presents is the same email Pesta has been showcasing during his presentations. florida porkfish regulations; nicholas letourneau georgetown. Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who arent really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse. No actual evidence has been presented to support the claim. The conspiracy appears to be linked to concerns around LGBT+ identities being affirmed in the education system. Some children, she alleged, would only communicate in barks and hisses. An Iowa newspaper reported some students in a small town identified as cats. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Other students felt threatened by the furries, who would hiss at you and scratch at you if they dont like something youre doing, the report said. / students identifying as cats. There are websites that claim there is a catgender movement, but that is a different thing. North Kingstown Councilwoman Mary Brimer sounded the alarm after hearing stories from parents of the school installing litter boxes at a school in a special section hidden from view. Call in 401-766-1380.John DePetro The Independent Man. "Restroom facilities are available at all district facilities in compliance with state law," she added. USA TODAY reached out to Hansen for comment. A SCOTTISH secondary school has had to deny reports that some of its pupils were identifying as cats and defecating on the floor after school officials refused to provide a litterbox. No, Furries Dont Get Litter Boxes in School Bathrooms. Poynter, 8 Mar. These people will hiss at you or scratch at you if they dont like something youre doing.". Brogan, Dylan. As well as corroboration from a superintendent, principal or teacher who can say this is happening in their district. arguments have been used throughout history, such as comparing interracial and homosexual relationships to bestiality and pedophilia. ", "It implies to the student that this type of behavior is completely acceptable and normal," they wrote in the complaint to Salem-Keizer. In a word, Sharrow told community members that if it sounds too wacky to be true, it probably is. If we do encounter a verifiable story about a school district doing that, Ill absolutely write about it. Yet it seems the rumor has reached Oregon, with recent gossip asserting Salem-Keizer Public Schools officials approved a student's request to self-identify as a cat and allowed litter boxes in the restrooms of Sprague High School. However, by constantly celebrating their decisions as brave, holding parades, allowing them to compete in sporting events with biological women, naming them women of the year, or even acknowledging gender identity as something more than junk science, society merely reinforces disturbing behaviors. "This is a rumor that has been circulating nationally, and more recently in our community, and is simply just that, a rumor, and is not in any way accurate. Regardless of what you have or have not heard about furries, it might surprise you to learn that there is a team of researchers who have devoted their careers to studying this fandom, Hal Herzog wrote for Psychology Todays Animals and Us column in 2017. I have two grandkids in school and my grandkids didnt want to go to school anymore," she said.She said the issue gained attention on social media once people started sharing photos and videos of the feline costumes and behavior, "I started getting videos and messages from kids, and I said, 'Ok, Im going to post this so parents know whats going on. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. Why would you attack our most vulnerable to get your point across, especially since the point is baseless?. As if to prove the superintendents point, commenters piled on, asking among other questions why the superintendent didnt address the issue of furries in schools. But according to Superintendent Mark Martin, a petition isnt needed. One student was apparently disciplined for pulling on the tail of one of the cat identifying students who was seen hissing at students in the cafeteria. Brainwashed School Kids Now Identifying as Animal "Furries" by Alex Newman February 4, 2022 FreedomProject Media As if identifying as newly invented "genders" was not outlandish enough,. 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, in fact every school district that has been named by those 20 politicians said in public statements that these claims are untrue. The buckets also contain candy for diabetic students, a map of the school, flashlights, wet wipes and first aid items. Michigan Republican Party, archived Jan. 24. It was"unconscionable" that he was addressing the rumor, Sharrow said,but he felt it necessary to do so because of its renewed spread on social media. Accountability is not a crime.. According to the Herald Sun, the girl identifies as a cat and the private school she attends allows her to be non-verbal and act feline, so long as it . We should all be sympathetic to these people, which is why we should not enable any of their delusions. Im just embarrassed by what this has gotten to," she said. "This is still a problem. Excuse me? 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 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. Having said that, I can picture Family Guy creating much fanfare with this fictional student-cat-identity and substitute-teacher-noncompliance story. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Since many "furries", "therians", and "otherkins" often identify as non-heterosexual, this may be a good way for them to know that you are open to seeing all students. John DePetro Show "At a recent school board meeting, it was revealed that a Michigan school placed a LITTER BOXES in the bathroom for students that identify as cats," user Jovan Pulitzer captioned the video in the Facebook post. It has even been parroted by former QAnon supporter and Republican politician Marjorie Taylor Greene. Click here to sign up for our fact-check text chat. The false claim that children who identify as cats are using litter boxes in school bathrooms has spread across the internet since at least December, when a member of the public brought it up. 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